Marxism

Question 1

What is the Marxist perspective on crime and deviance ?

Answer 1

Marxists believe that crime is inevitable in a capitalist society because it encourages poverty, competition and greed

• white collar and corporate crimes are often ignored

Question 2

What is Criminogenic capitalism ?

Answer 2

The idea that capitalism is the cause of crime as it indoctrinates an unequal social structure by advantaging those of higher class - M/C - and by reproduces competition and greed - by being a meritocratic system - which may force some to become frustrated w their status and look towards the illegitimate opportunist strucutre

Question 3

How is capitalism criminogenic ?

Answer 3

. Capitalism promotes a ‘Dog eat dog’ society where everyone is fending for themselves
- E.g. UK cost of living crisis = rising crime rates

. People experience alienation as work life is mundane - crime may be a way out of that feeling for a lot of people

Question 4

What is ‘Selective enforcement’ ?

Answer 4

The idea that laws are only enforced for those of higher class that are ‘worth more’ to society

• powerless groups such as the W/C and ethnic minorities are criminalised - the police and court tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.

Question 5

What does Marxist Chambliss identify ?

Answer 5

That state lwas to protect private property are a cornerstone of the capitalist economy

Question 6

What does Marxists Snider Argue ?

Answer 6

Capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of buisnesses or threaten their profitability

Question 7

What does Marxist Pearce identify ?

Answer 7

That laws give capitalism a ‘caring face’ and create false consciousness among workers
- this is because the state enforces the law selectively allowing crime to appear to be a largely W/C phenomenon

Question 8

What does Marxist Engles argue about crime and deviance

Answer 8

Argued that poverty has caused distressed and forces people to turn to crime by giving people 3 options :
- Suicide
- Starvation
- Theft

Question 9

What are the three main elements of crime in marxism

Answer 9

. Criminogenic capitalism

. The state and law breaking

. Ideological functions of crime

Question 10

Why does capitalism cause crime - criminogenic capitalism

Answer 10

Superstructure causing people to consume goods such entices people into wanting things they can’t afford - so turn to crime

• capitalism causes proberly and the desperation of poverty may force you to turn to crime
• alienation in education / workplace may lead to frustration and aggression - lead to non utilitarian crimes to output stress

Question 11

What does Marxist Gordon argue about the response crime is

Answer 11

argues that crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and so it is found in all social classes even tho official statistics make crime seem to be a W/C phenomenon

Question 12

What is the significant of The state and law breaking

Answer 12

Marxists see the law making and law enforcement as only serving the interests of the capitalist class

• The ruling class have the power to prevent the introduction of laws that would threaten their interests

Question 13

What does Marxist Snider identify

Answer 13

Snider argued that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of business or threaten their profitability

Question 14

What did Hughes and Langan identify

Answer 14

Why white collar crimes go undetected :

1. Low viability - street crimes like rape and burglary are highly voidable whilst white collar crimes like tax evasion happen within offices away from public gaze

2. Complexity - Large scale fraud is complex and hard to allocate blame as such it would take a while to cover on the media / convict someone

3. Diffusion of responsibility - It is difficult to apportion blame - E.G. Thalidomide scandal where it was difficult to blame and convict one particular person

4. Diffusion of victimisation - Reference to victimless crimes = less likely individuals will pursue claims

Question 15

What is significant if the Ideological functions of crime and law ?

Answer 15

. The idea that crime has an ideological function for capitalism
- Laws are often passed that appear to be for the benefit of the W/C rather than capitalism - E.G. workplace health and safety laws

. selective law enforcement makes crime appear to be a largely W/C phenomenon - this divided the W/C by encouraging workers to blame the criminal in their midst for their problems rather than capitalism

Question 16

How does the media play into crime

Answer 16

The media as an agent of secondary socialisation help to create a false consciousness by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals - thus hiding the fact that it is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminals

Question 17

What are the strengths to the marxist theory of crime ?

Answer 17

. Looks at both causes of crime and the criminisation of the individual

. Big capitalist countries serve as evidence to support the marxist view

. Does explain why W/C commit more crime - selective law enforcement - the law is legit against them

. suggests that there is a solution to crime - communism

Question 18

What are the Weaknesses of the marxist theory of crime ?

Answer 18

. Over emphasise property crime and crime to make money - Utilitarian

. Over emphasise class inequality in relation to crime - does not touch of gender / Ethnicity

. Too deterministic

. Many laws are in the interest of society - e.g. speeding

. Ignore victims of the crime - Most victims are W/C

. Some capitalist countries have low rates of crime - E.g. japan and switzerland for example ( Jones)

. Communist states have not eradicated crime - Like china