Marxism Flashcards
What is the Marxist view on the relationship between capitalism and crime?
Capitalism is criminogenic; it inherently causes crime by nature.
What are examples of crime related to capitalism?
- Google’s tax avoidance
- Breaking health and safety laws
Why do members of the working class commit crime according to Marxism?
It is often the only way to survive and escape poverty.
What does ‘GAP crime’ stand for in the context of Marxism?
- Greed
- Alienation
- Poverty
What types of crimes might result from feelings of alienation and lack of control?
- Violence
- Vandalism
- Theft
How do Marxists explain ruling class crime?
They believe the notion of the American Dream encourages property accumulation and wealth.
What is a criticism of Marxism regarding crime and poverty?
It is deterministic; not all poor people commit crime despite poverty.
What is a criticism to the idea that capitalism causes high crime rates?
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates; for example, Japan has lower rates than America. SO, undermines capitalism is the cause of crime.
Why is Capitalism Criminogenic?
Based on exploitation of WC, who are used as a ‘means to an end’ (profit)- whatever the human cost of doing so.
What does RC refer to in corporate crime?
RC may commit corporate crime e.g. tax evasion and breaking Health and Safety laws
According to David Gordon (1976), how is crime viewed in relation to capitalism?
Crime is a rational response to capitalism and is found in all social classes-
even though statistics show crime is primarily a working-class phenomenon.
What is the Marxist perspective on law making and enforcement?
Law making and enforcement serve the interests of the RC
Who argued that laws to protect private property are crucial to the capitalist economy?
William Chambliss
What example did Chambliss use to show the economic interests behind law enforcement?
introduction of English law into Britain’s East African colonies
This was related to the need for local labour on tea and coffee plantations.
What was the consequence of the enforced taxation in the colonies?
Non-payment became a criminal offence
What did Carson find in his sample of firms regarding health and safety laws? (Ao3)
All firms had broken health and safety laws, yet only 1.5% of cases were prosecuted.
This highlights selective enforcement of laws.
What does selective enforcement of the law imply?
The Criminal Justice System chooses which crimes to prosecute and which to ignore/ ‘turn a blind eye to’
This creates significant differences in legal consequences based on social class.
According to Reiman, what is the prosecution rate for street crimes compared to white-collar crimes?
There is a disproportionately high rate of prosecutions for street crimes and compared with the more forgiving treatment of white-collar crimes.
What does Chambliss mean by ‘crimes of the streets’ vs ‘crimes of the suites’?
‘Crimes of the streets’ are focused on by the Criminal Justice System ignoring ‘crimes of the suites’
This reflects the inequality in prosecution between different classes.
True or False: There is a higher rate of prosecution for crimes committed by the rich than for those committed by the poor.
False
What is the perception of the Criminal Justice System regarding the prosecution of wealthy crimes?
Occasionally prosecute crimes of wealthy: It is a smokescreen that appears impartial while covering up selective enforcement.
According to Marxist theory, what ideological function do crime and law serve for capitalism?
They spread ideas that help keep workers passive.
What is the significance of health and safety laws according to Pearce?
They give capitalism a caring face, promoting false class consciousness.
What does Gordon argue is the purpose of directing frustration and hostility towards criminals in the WC?
To distract workers from their exploitation and inequalities in capitalism.
How does selective enforcement affect crime statistics?
It distorts them, making crime appear as a WC issue and shifting attention from serious RC crime.
What moral panic is linked to Hall’s ‘Policing the Crisis’?
A moral panic over black muggers that distracted the WC from crises in capitalism.
What ideological function do law, crime, and criminals perform for capitalism?
They uphold capitalist ideology.
True or False: According to Marxist views, crime is solely a problem of the WC.
True.
Fill in the blank: Selective enforcement distorts the crime statistics by making crime look like a ______ issue.
WC
