Marxism Flashcards
What are the 3 main elements Marxists say crime is based on?
- criminogenic capitalism
- the state and law making
- selective enforcement
According to Marxists who is criminogenic and what does it mean?
- capitalism is criminogenic
- it’s in its nature to cause crime
What causes w/c to commit crime according to criminogenic capitalism?
- poverty: only way to obtain consumer goods advertised by capitalism is theft
- alienation / lack of control: leads to frustration which leads to vandalism
What cause m/c to commit crime according to criminogenic capitalism?
- capitalism is a dog eat dog system
- promotes competition among capitalists
- profit motive encourages a mentality of greed
- this leads to white collar crime and corporate crime e.g tax evasion
What did Gordon say about criminogenic capitalism?
Gorden (1976):
“Crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and is found in all social classes”
Who are the key Marxists that argue state and law making?
- Chambliss (1975)
- Snider (1993)
What does William Chambliss argue about the state and law making?
- laws are to protect private property
- these are the cornerstone of the capitalism
- ruling class have power to prevent introducing new laws
- these laws could threaten their wealth
- there are few laws that seriously challenge the unequal distribution of wealth
What does Laureen snider argue about the state and law making?
- capitalist societies reluctant to pass laws that threaten wealth
- laws are written to not prevent large profits of so that rich can avoid
- big companies are necessary for capitalist societies so given concessions to benefit them
- corporate crime is more costly for society than w/c crimes
What 2 key theories argue selective enforcement?
- Reiman (2001)
- Gordon (1976)
What does Reiman argue about selective enforcement?
- street crimes e.g theft are more reported and investigated that corporate crime e.g fraud
- the more likely a higher class crime is committed the less likely it’s treated as criminal
- greater policing and more police confrontation among w/c, youths and blacks
What does Gordon argue about selective enforcement?
- helps maintain ruling class power
- reinforces ruling class ideology
- gives impression criminals are mainly w/c
- encourages w/c to blame criminals for their problems rather than capitalism
What the key case study for Marxism and crime?
Monsanto milk production
Who research the Monsanto case study?
- Fox News presenters
- Jane Akre
- Steve Wilson
What was found by the researchers about Monsanto?
- hormone BHG injected to cows to produce more milk
- BHG contaminated milk
- could case colon and breast cancer
- not properly tested by drug company
- Canadian government recorded an attempted bribery from Monsanto
- Monsanto lawyers prevented story
- sacked and released story else where
- ended up in court
Why are Fox News reluctant to produce story?
- fear of being sued
- afraid of losing advertising profits from Monsanto
