Marxism And Crime Flashcards
What do Marxists see the function of society is
Society’s institutions as serving ruling class interests
Crime is linked to relationships of power and control - three main elements:
Criminogenic capitalism
The state and law making
Ideological functions of crime and law
Conflict theory
Society based on class conflict
Structural theory
Sees institutions as largely determining how we behave
Causes of crime
Generated by the structure of capitalism society - inevitable
Gordon
Capitalism is criminogenic
- crime is a rational response to the capitalist system
Capitalism is criminogenic
Gordon
Poverty ( explanation of criminogenic)
Capitalism fails people who are relatively deprived
- have to resort to crime and ilegitimate ways to succeed
Crimes of the powerful
White collar: non violent, committed by professionals and managers
- state crime
Corporate crime
Offences committed by corporations in the pursuit of profit
Ford Pinto
1970s
- car that gave you a warm feelings
- tendency to burst into flames in collisions
- production continued for 8 years, responsible for 500-900 deaths
Boohoo
Workers in Leicester paid £3.59
- minimum wage much higher
- operating during lockdown with no additional hygiene or social distancing measures put in place
The state and law making
Laws made by the powerful for the powerful - serve ruling class interests
Sneider
Capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws regulating activities of business
Capitalist state reluctant to pass laws which threaten their profitability
Sneider
Selective law enforcement
Law enforced selectively and systematic bias favours those on top
Reiman
The more likely a crime is committed by the ruling class, the less likely it is to be treated as a criminal offence
Sneider
White collar crime and corporate crime so far more physical and economic harm than street crime by ‘typical’ criminals
When powerful people fail to pay business taxes and break trading laws
They are rarely prosecuted
Pearce
Laws benefit ruling class
- keep workers fit and healthy
- gives capitalism a ‘caring’ face
- creates false class consciousness
Ideological functions of law
Laws passed that appear to benefit workers
Carson
200 firms broken health and safety laws only 1.5% were prosecuted
200 firms broke health and safety laws
Only 1.5% prosecuted
Criticisms of Marxism
Ignores relationship between crime and other non- class inequalities such as ethnicity and gender
- deterministic
- not all capitalist societies have high crime rates
Health and safety laws
Make it seem like boss is helping you, just ensuring that you can come into work and fulfill your role
