Marxism , Crime And Deviance

Question 1

What type of theory is Marxism?

Answer 1

A conflict structuralist theory

Question 2

Why does Marx argue that laws exist?

Answer 2

So the R/C can protect their private property

Question 3

How do Marxists see captalist as? (same as functionalism)

Answer 3

Crimogentic - meaning that crime is a natural response to it

Question 4

What are the two ways Althuser (1971) claims the ruling class are controlled?

Answer 4

Ideological state apparatuses
Repressive state apparatuses

Question 5

What are ideological state apparatuses? (Althuser 1971)

Answer 5

They are the structures that alter the way we think (e.g Schools)

Question 6

What are repressive state apperatuses?

Answer 6

Forceful institutions that impose law (e.g police)

Question 7

What are 3 reasons why it seems like the W/C commit more crime?

Answer 7

Selective law enforcement
The ruling class own the media
The invisibility of white collar crime

Question 8

Explain selective law enforcement and evidence (Marxism)

Answer 8

The ruling class decide who the police focus on

Evidence - Stuart Hall: Black muggers

Question 9

Explain the idea that the R/C control the media , therefore it seems that W/C causes more crime and evidence of this (Marxism)

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What did Bonger (1905) claim about the defenition of crime?

Answer 10

He claimed that ‘The r/c can define crime as anything that threatens their interests’

Question 11

Why is the invisibility of white-collar crime significant?

Answer 11

Due to white-collar crime going under the radar, w/c crime has all the focus dumped on it

Question 12

How is the media important for the Marxist view on crime and deivance?

Answer 12

The way media represents the classes affects how society views them (e.g w/c unintelligent –> will be seen as dumb)

Question 13

What did Graham (1976) suggest the US’s focus on all drugs apart from anphematimines suggest?

Answer 13

It was a prime example of selective law enforcement as anphematimines were made by big pharmicitcal companies (the r/c)

Question 14

What are two strengths of Marxism?

Answer 14

They are a macro approach so they look at social control agencies (e.g government)

It looks at both law makers and breakers

Question 15

What are three weaknesses of Marxism?

Answer 15

They ignore laws that protect the w/c

It’s very deterministic

Its reductionist - claims all behaviour is based on around the ecomomy

Question 16

What did Pearce (1976) suggest was the true reasoning behind health and safey laws?

Answer 16

Pearce suggested that health and saftey laws exist as it provides the r/c with fit and healthy work-force

Question 17

Why did Snider (1993) suggest the state is relucant to pass laws that effect big businesses? (Marxist)

Answer 17

The r/c is out to protect their own interests via laws

Question 18

What did Neocleous (2000) claim about the police force? (Neo-Marxist)

Answer 18

He claimed that police have been a tool of the state since their inception

Question 19

What did William Chambliss find the r/c did to evade punishment for commiting crimes (1976 Seatttle)

Answer 19

He found that the r/c used bribery and influence to get away with crimes

Question 20

How differently was the saints and the roughneck’s behaviour labelled (Chambliss 1973)

Answer 20

Both groups were deviant, but the saints behaviour was excused and the roughnecks were punished