Marxism

Question 1

What type of theory is Marxism?

Answer 1

Structural, conflict, macro
Source of c+d = located in structures of S
Capitalist infrastructure = criminogenic

Question 2

What is their basic view on S and c+d?

Answer 2

Source = located in structures of S
Social control = based on unequal creation + enforcement, benefits bourgeoisie
rc crime = hidden
Capitalism = criminogenic

Question 3

How is capitalism criminogenic?

Answer 3

= Based on exploitation of wc
= damaging to them - motivation to commit crime
e.g. to escape poverty, alienation/ lack of satisfaction at work

Question 4

What does Chambliss (1976) argue that capitalism encourages?

Answer 4

Consumer greed

Produces relative deprivation

Question 5

What does Gordon (1976) argue about crime?

Answer 5

= rational response to capitalist system
Therefore = in ALL social classes
Even though stats make it appear that most crime = committed by wc

Question 6

What do traditional Marxists argue about about law creation + enforcement?

Answer 6

Functionalist = wrong to assume that it reflects v.consensus
Reflects dominant ideology that benefits rc

Snider: laws that threaten big businesses = unlikely to be passes

Question 7

In the US, what crimes actually involve more money - corporate crimes or robberies + street crimes?

Answer 7

Street crime in USA costs $4 billion BUT

Corporate crime in the USA = 20 x this figure

Question 8

Why does Pearce (1976) argue that crime performs an ideological function for capitalism?

Answer 8

Argues that health + safety laws perform ideological function
Keeps workplace fit for work
Makes it appear the capitalist system cases the workers
Produces false consciousness

Question 9

What happens when the wc commit crimes?

How is this beneficial to the capitalist system?

Answer 9

Individuals = defined as ‘social failures’, responsible for actions
By imprisoning large No. of wc, rc = eliminating opposition of inequality
Defining them as ‘animals’ = (ideological) justification for imprisonment
Also means wc don’t unite (= result in communist revolution) as they = suspicious of each other
- capitalist S teaches wc = criminals
Media contributes to this

Question 10

How did Sutherland define White-collar crime?

Answer 10

‘Crimes committed by persons of high social status + respectability in the course of their occupations’

Question 11

What is the approximate cost of white collar crimes per year in the UK?

Answer 11

£20 billion

Costs each UK inhabitant £330

Question 12

What are the 2 types of white collar crime?

Answer 12

1. Occupational - people who step from companies via their jobs
2. Corporate - crime by corporations + businesses affecting employees, consumers + the public

Question 13

What did Ditton + Mars find in relation to occupational crime?

Answer 13

Study of bakery delivery men
Thefts seen as legitimate part of the job (‘perks’)
- legitimates crime, seen as acceptable

Question 14

What did Levi find in relation to occupational crime?

Answer 14

Study of fraud by employees on employers in late 1980s
75% of all fraud on banks + building societies = by employees
BUT organisations often don’t prosecute; want to avoid =ve publicity

Question 15

How would Traditional Marxists explain occupational crime?

Answer 15

Values of capitalism (self interest) makes it seem okay to break the law
- could also be explained by labelling theory, seen as ‘perks’ with no stigmatising effects

Question 16

Why do corporate crimes often go unpunished?

Answer 16

Unclear as to whether these are actually crimes
May break codes/ standards BUT aren’t illegal (yet can still kill/ harm people)
e.g. The Bhopal disaster, Gas leak in India, American company, thousands died, no one prosecuted

Question 17

What does Box argue big companies deliberately do?

Answer 17

Use less developed countries for unsafe products + factories
IOT increase profit margins
e.g. Bhopal disaster
Crimes = seen as morally wrong but don’t break any laws

Question 18

What are the 4 criticisms of the Traditional Marxist view on crime?

Answer 18

1. Not all wc people who experience poverty commit crime (over credits crime committed by poor, ignores Rship between factors such as gender, ethnicity)
2. Some groups resist capitalism, not passive to dominate ideology (too deterministic, ignores free will)
3. Not all capitalist countries have high crime rates (Japan has much less crime than US)
4. Not all crimes of powerful go unpunished (British bank = ordered to pay PPI to consumers)

Question 19

What is the homicide rate in Japan compared to the USA?

Answer 19

Japan = 1.0 per 100,000
USA = 5.6 per 100,000

Question 20

What are the 2 advantages of the Traditional Marxist view on crime?

Answer 20

1. Highlights impact of selective law enforcement + how white collar crimes = under policed (raises awareness + Q motives of those making the laws)
2. Shows inequality in S can lead to criminal behaviour