Marxism and Crime Flashcards
What do Marxists say about the role that crime and deviance play for the ruling class?
Its a positive one
What do Marxists focus on explaining?
White collar and corporate crime committed by the middle classes
What do Marxists say about the police and the criminal justice system?
They work on behalf of the ruling class (bourgeoisie)
What is Althusser’s ideological state apparatus?
A structure that helps to justify/ hide social class inequalities. The inequality starts in the economic structure and then the law helps to ensure that the working class don’t challenge the unjust organisation of capitalist society.
What did Stephen Box say about the law?
It reflects the interests of the ruling class as they have the power to prevent laws being passed which are not in their interest
What’s wrong with the laws surrounding the ruling class?
Offences committed by the ruling class are not as clearly defined as criminal or these offences are selectively or weakly enforced
What does Gordon say about the relationship between crime and social class?
Capitalism is responsible for crime committed because the value system in criminogenic. Crime is a natural and inevitable consequence of capitalism
What does Gordon say about crime committed by poorer people?
It is a rational response to the inequalities and humiliations that they experience on a daily basis
What did Chambliss say about capitalism?
It is based on competition, selfishness, and greed and this shapes peoples attitudes to crime
What did Chambliss say about the role the media plays in crime?
It has encouraged an emphasis on celebrity, money and material success leading to a common culture of greed and self interest.
What do they say about the capitalist emphasis on wealth?
It creates a culture of envy among the poorer sections of society who may respond to growing inequality with resentful hostility, grievance, and violence
What did Chambliss note about deviance among different classes?
When middle class men behaved in a deviant way, they were able to use their status and good reputation to negotiate their way out of trouble. Working class men are constantly under surveillance and were treated more harshly than middle class when they came into confrontation with teachers and police officers
How does Croall define white collar crime?
White collar crime is a type of crime which is carried out for personal financial gain by people in positions of status and responsibility
Why does white collar crime typically have no victims?
People are often ignorant to the fact that they are victims because white collar and corporate crimes are the consequence of complex and invisible processes
How can Marxism be criticised?
- It ignores the relationship between crime and non class variables (race, gender, age)
- It is too deterministic and over predicts working class crime
