Marxism Flashcards
What is Marxism? Which two people were responsible for this perspective?
the socio-economic and political analysis of capitalism as a structure that organizes society. This perspective was taken by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles in the 18th century.
Define the 2 classes that Marx and Engles critiqued about capitalism?
(1) The Bourgeoise - middle/upper class (eg. land owners, business owners, elites) who were power holders and defined the modes of production (how things would be produced, what money people would hear, hours of labor, conditions of labor, etc.)
(2) The Proletariat - working class
What does Marxist Criminology focus on?
Marxist Criminology emerged in the 1960s and focuses on the the inequality of power in lawmaking, policing, and punishment (all aspects of the CJS)
What does Marxist Criminology focus on? How is it similar to conflict theories?
Marxist Criminology emerged in the 1960s and focuses on the the inequality of power in lawmaking, policing, and punishment (all aspects of the CJS). Both Marxist Criminology and Conflict theories focus on power relations. While conflict theories focus on the conflict between social classes, Marxist criminology focuses on how this conflict plays a role in every aspect of the CJS (lawmaking, policing, and punishment)
What contributions did Marxism make in society?
(1) it shifted the analysis of crime to understanding how the oppressed and marginalized (Proletariat) may turn to crime in an attempt to gain the wealth of the elite (Bourgeoisie) in capitalist societies simply in order to survive. In this, the state deems these Proletariat’s actions as criminal in order to maintain unequal power relations.
(2) shifted analysis to looking at the processes of how the elite engage in lawmaking, policing, and punishment in order to control the marginalized
(3) shifted analysis to the bourgeoise elite
Who suggested that criminalization of the working class / poor was instituted to reproduce capitalist order?
Stephen Spitzer (1974)
Who suggested that crime is not a reflection of culture and customs, but rather, is the result of rules created by the upper class that result in conflicts between social classes?
William Chambliss (1974)
What does Marxism propose to prevent crime?
Get rid of capitalist order, create a redistribution of wealth.
What are 2 models of politics that regulate capitalism?
(1) Welfare economy (aka. welfare capitalism, welfare liberalism)
(2) Neo-liberal economy (aka. Laissez faire, free market capitalism)
Explain the dual process of neo-liberalism.
1st process: Roll back welfare state spending
- includes privatizing education, welfare, and healthcare, increasing inequality, exploitation, and poverty
2nd process: roll out spending for the police and prisons
- state spending goes toward increasing policing and criminalizing the poor and marginalized, as well as building and maintaining prisons
In other words, taking the money used in education, welfare, and healthcare, and using it for policing and prisons
How does Neo-liberalism create poverty?
- eliminating jobs
- results in unemployment and unregulated housing market
- education cuts
- closing of homeless and women’s shelters
- closing facilities for mentally ill
What are some of the causes of homelessness?
- extreme poverty
- unaffordable housing
- unemployment
- mental health issues
- social systemic issues (abuse, marginalization, discrimination, and exclusion)
- released prisoners
What are the main causes for homelessness among women and families?
- violence
- low income
- gendered responsibilities
- under or unemployment
What are the main causes for homelessness among mentally ill people?
- inability to care for themselves
- no access to treatment
- no access to medication
- drug addiction
What are the 3 consequences of neo-liberalism?
- social support gets reduced
- policing gets enhanced
- blame shifts to those who actually need help
