Marxism , Crime And Deviance Flashcards
What type of theory is Marxism?
A conflict structuralist theory
Why does Marx argue that laws exist?
So the R/C can protect their private property
How do Marxists see captalist as? (same as functionalism)
Crimogentic - meaning that crime is a natural response to it
What are the two ways Althuser (1971) claims the Working class are controlled?
Ideological state apparatuses
Repressive state apparatuses
What are ideological state apparatuses? (Althuser 1971)
They are the structures that alter the way we think (e.g Schools, media, religion)
What are repressive state apperatuses?
Forceful institutions that impose law (e.g police)
What are 3 reasons why it seems like the W/C commit more crime?
Selective law enforcement
The ruling class own the media
The invisibility of white collar crime
Explain selective law enforcement and evidence (Marxism)
The ruling class decide who the police focus on
Evidence - Stuart Hall: Black muggers
Explain the idea that the R/C control the media , therefore it seems that W/C causes more crime and evidence of this (Marxism)
The R/C choose whats reported on as they own the media , which leads to tension within the W/C
Evidence - Stan Cohen: Folk Devils
What did Bonger (1905) claim about the defenition of crime?
He claimed that ‘The r/c can define crime as anything that threatens their interests’
Why is the invisibility of white-collar crime significant?
Due to white-collar crime going under the radar, w/c crime has all the focus dumped on it
How is the media important for the Marxist view on crime and deivance?
Thety claim that the way media represents the classes affects how society views them (e.g w/c unintelligent –> will be seen as dumb)
What did Graham (1976) suggest the US’s focus on all drugs apart from anphematimines suggest?
It was a prime example of selective law enforcement as anphematimines were made by big pharmicitcal companies (the r/c)
What are two strengths of Marxism?
They are a macro approach so they look at social control agencies (e.g government)
It looks at both law makers and breakers
What are three weaknesses of Marxism?
They ignore laws that protect the w/c
It’s very deterministic
Its reductionist - claims all behaviour is based on around the ecomomy
What did Pearce (1976) suggest was the true reasoning behind health and safey laws?
Pearce suggested that health and saftey laws exist as it provides the r/c with fit and healthy work-force
Why did Snider (1993) suggest the state is relucant to pass laws that effect big businesses? (Marxist)
The r/c is out to protect their own interests via laws
What did Neocleous (2000) claim about the police force? (Neo-Marxist)
He claimed that police have been a tool of the state since their inception
What did William Chambliss find the r/c did to evade punishment for commiting crimes (1976 Seatttle)
He found that the r/c used bribery and influence to get away with crimes
How differently was the saints and the roughneck’s behaviour labelled (Chambliss 1973)
Both groups were deviant, but the saints behaviour was excused and the roughnecks were punished
Who spoke about The US war on drugs but the ignorance towards ampthetamines?
Graham (1976)
What is an example of a Repressive state apparatus (Althuser) being untilsed?
Police use of rubber bullets and water cannons in reaction to BLM protests
