Marxism Flashcards
What are the 4 reasons why crime/deviance happens?
1) criminogenic capitalism
2) the state and law making
3) selective enforcement
4) ideological functions of crime and law
1) Why may the WC commit crimes?
It is the only way for them to survive and the only way they can get consumer goods that capitalism promotes. Also alienation and lack of control will lead to frustration which will lead to crime.
What does GAP stand for?
G - Greed - only way to obtain consumer goods and encourages white collar crime
A - Alienation - lack of control which leads to frustration and anger
P - Poverty - only way WC can survive
What will encourage the RC to commute corporate crime?
The American Dream
1) What examples and evaluation is there for criminogenic capitalism?
- the cry for help on the primark label and the health and safety at pound stretcher which was a 1 million pound fine
EVAL - not all capitalist societies will have high crime rate e.g Japan lower crime rate than America
2) How is law making and enforcement presented?
It serves the interest of the capitalist class and the RC will have the power to have laws that benefit them.
What does Chambliss (1975) say?
There are laws to protect private property
2) What examples and evaluation is there for state and law making?
- English law into Britains East African colonies(tax through plantation)and Ford Pinto(137 million to fix 11 million cars)
EVAL - CJS implement laws to benefit society e.g NHS
What will the CJS do according in selective enforcement?
They will prosecute some crimes and “turn a blind eye” to others
What did Reiman (2001) find out about WC and MC
The WC will commit crimes like burglary and assault and MC will commit crimes like tax evasion and the CJS will be more forgiving towards them.
What’s a smokescreen?
When the CJS will prosecute the MC but the system will cover this up.
4) What does crime and law do?
It helps spread ideas that help keep workers passive and some laws will benefit workers which creates a false class consciousness.
4) What does Gordon say in ideological functions of crime and law?
Purpose of these laws is to distract the WC from exploitation.
4) What are the 2 examples and evaluation for ideological functions of crime and law?
1) Bhopal disaster (1984) - 500,000 survivors
2) Bernard Madoff - RC crime stole 18 billion/ prison 150 years
EVAL- black muggers distract WC from capitalism
What is the evaluation for selective enforcement?
The CHS does sometimes implement laws that benefit society e.g NHS/health and safety laws
