Marxism and and crime

Question 1

What does Marxism suggest about Capitalism?

Answer 1

It’s criminogenic (naturally criminal).

Question 2

According to Marxism, what does Capitalism create?

Answer 2

False class consciousness (fake sense of meritocracy) which creates alienation i.e. feeling estranged from society which is similar to Strain.

Question 3

Who is a Carl Marx (1818-83)?

Answer 3

He is a conflict theorist who proposed Marxism.

Question 4

What two classes conflict did Carl Marx (1818-83) argue that structure was based on?

Answer 4

The Ruling class or Bourgeoisie (owners of the Means of Production) and the Working class or Proletariat.

Question 5

Where does crime come from, according to Marxism?

Answer 5

Society (from laws which are made by society)

Question 6

Marx believe the ___________ exploits the ________ by making profit of their Labour and that the ________ sell their labour for a wage which doesn’t reflect the true value of their labour. It’s the beliefs and ideas of the Ruling Class that influence the rest of _______- they must make society believe that its normal, natural, and essential part of life to go to work and earn a wage.

Answer 6

1. Bourgeoisie
2. Proletariat
3. Proletariat
4. society

Question 7

Who does Marx say cause the most crime?

Answer 7

Proletariat

Question 8

What is Carl Marx’ explanation for how this exploitation continue?

Answer 8

Societies social institutions in the superstructure work for the economy with the Bourgeoisie to make the Proletariat feel that this system is inevitable (ideological control) and meritocratic.

Question 9

Name the 4 types of alienation (with examples):

Answer 9

1) World: Slavery, human trafficking, war crime, and genocide.
2) Work (WCC): Tax evasion
3) Each other (individual crimes): Murder and rape.
4) Ourselves: Suicide, self-harm, and tattoos.

Question 10

What is false class consciousness?

Answer 10

When you feel the system works for you when it doesn’t.
- The true nature of working-class inequality is hidden from them.

Question 11

What does Marx refer to as ISA (Ideological state apparatus)? Give examples:

Answer 11

Tools of the government to shape our ideas/brainwash us. E.g., media or education. (Western society).

Question 12

In a society where the ISA doesn’t exist, they have a RSA (________ state apparatus).

Answer 12

Repressive

Question 13

What is the RSA (Repressive state apparatus)? Give examples:

Answer 13

Tools the government uses to repress us. E.g., police, military, prison, or the judiciary (such as Marshall law). (Dictatorships)

Question 14

What three things does Marx argue that most crime is a logical response to?

Answer 14

• Economic deprivation (the Bourgeoise take too much profit)- survival
• Frustration or failure lead to violence
• Encourages ‘want’ through advertising (Consumerism)

Question 15

What are 2 criticisms of what Marx argues that most crime is a logical response to?

Answer 15

• Doesn’t explain WWC (according to him crime is a consequence of needing more money), technological (dated), and non-utilitarian crimes (thrill seeking crimes that don’t seek money). However, the diff types of alienation could explain non-utilitarian crimes.
• Dated

Question 16

How does law lead to crime according to Marxism?

Answer 16

The state passes laws which reflect the ideologies and interests of the ruling class and maintain its power.

Question 17

What did Mannheim argued that the law protects

Answer 17

Mannheim argued that the law protects private property, therefore wealth and profit of the ruling class.
- The first laws were property laws, made by the rich (Bourgeoise) to criminalise the poor (Proletariat). For instance, longer sentence for robbing a bank than rape.

Question 18

W

Question 19

Why do Marxists argue that Capitalism needs crime and has no intention of reducing it?

Answer 19

Crime creates middle class job’s.

Question 20

Describe Frank Pearce (1976).

Answer 20

Pearce studied organised crime in the USA and claimed that WCC and corporate crime was conducted on a large scale than crimes committed by working class offenders. Therefore, WCC impact and cost the most.