MARXISM & NEO MARXISM Flashcards
What are the 3 MAIN ELEMENTS of MARXISM CRIME?
- CRIMINOGENIC CAPITALISM
- THE STATE and LAW MAKING
- IDEOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS Of CRIME and LAW
Explain the Element - CRIMINOGENIC CRIME - for W/C
- CAPITALISM BREEDS CRIME = Is INEVITABLE
- CAPITALISM -> EXPLOITATION of W/C -> USE for PROFIT -> DAMAGING THEM = RISE of CRIME
- POVERTY -> CRIME is ONLY WAY for W/C SURVIVAL
- ONLY WAY OBTAINING CONSUMER GOODS ENCOURAGED By CAPITALIST ADVERTISING -> UTILITARIAN CRIME e.g. Theft
- ALIENATION + LACK of CONTROL Over LIVES -> FRUSTRATION + AGRRESION = NON UT CRIMES e.g. Violence + Vandalism
Explain the Element - CRIMINOGENIC CRIME - for Non-W/C
- CRIME ISN’T CONFINED to W/C. CAPITALISM = ‘DOG EAT DOG’ System of RUTHLESS COMPETITION Among CAPITALIST, while the PROFIT MOTIVE ENCOURAGES a MENTALITY Of GREED + SELF INTEREST
- NEED to WIN at ALL COSTS + DESIRE For SLEF ENRICHMENT = CAPITALIST Commit WHITE COLLAR CRIMES ; tax evasion
Explain the ELEMENT - STATE & LAW MAKING
- LAW MAKING & LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY SERVES the INTERESTS of CAPITALIST CLASS
- E.g. CHAMBLISS (1975) - LAWS to PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY Are the CORNERSTONE Of the CAPITALIST ECONOMY -> e.g introduction of English Law into Britain’s East African Colonies
- RULING CLASS HAVE the POWER to PREVENT the INTRODUCTION of LAWS that WOULD THREATEN Their INTERESTS
- SNIDER (1993) - CAPITALIST STATE are RELUCTANT to PASS LAWS that REGULATE the ACTIVITIES of BUSINESS or THREATEN THEIR PROFITABILITY
- SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT -> Application of Law by CJS -> ethnic minoroties crinimalised + W/C
Explain the Element - IDEOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS of CRIME and LAW
- LAWS are OCCASIONALLY PASSED that APPEAR to Be FOR the BENEFIT of the W/C RATHER than CAPITALISM
HOWEVER - PEARCE (1976) - LAWS KEEP WORKERS FIT For WORK -> CREATES a FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS Among WORKERS - these LAWS AREN’T RIGOUROUSLY ENFORCED
- Because the STATE ENFORCED the LAW SELECTIVELY , CRIME Appears to be Largely a W/C PHENOMENON -> this DIVIDES the W/C by ENCOURAGING Workers to BLAME the CRIMINALS in their Midst for their Problems , RATHER than CAPITALISM
What are 3 CRITICISMS of MARXISM view on Crime
- IGNORES the RELATIONSHIP between CRIME and NON/CLASS INEQUALITIES , e.g. Ethnicity and Gender
- TOO DETERMINISTIC + OVER PREDICTS the AMOUNT of CRIME in the W/C - NOT ALL COMMIT CRIME, DESPITE the PRESSURES of POVERTY
- LR argue to IGNORES INTR-CLASS CRIME e.g. W/C on W/C
How are NEO-MARXISTS INFLUENCED?
INFLUENCED By TRADITIONAL MARXIST Views by INCORPORATING and DEVELOPING Marxist Ideas FURTHER, AS WELL as the Ideas of INTERACTIONALIST LABELLING THEORY
What do NEO MARXISTS like TAYLOR ET AL AGREE ON?
- CRIME is a PRODUCT of CAPITALISM + the RESULT of INEQUALITY of WEALTH and POWER is the BASIS of CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
- LAWS are LARGELY CREATED by the STATE for BENEFIT of RULING CLASS and LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES are MORE LIKELY to FOCUS on and CRIMINALISE W/C CRIMES
- the REPLACEMENT of CAPITALISM WITH a CLASSLESS SOCIETY + REDISTRIBUTION Of WEALTH will HELP REDUCE CRIME to a NORMINAL LEVEL
- PEOPLE have FREE WILL - CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE to COMMIT CRIME or NOT
WHAT do NEO MARXISTS REJECT
- REJECT CRIMINAL DETERMINISM - View that PERSON’S CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR is the CONSEQUENCE of OUTSIDE FACTORS They have NO CONTROL OVER , e.g. Economic Inequality, Labelling Theory.
- are Therefore Critical of the Marxist Approach and Other Approaches that are Deterministic
What Solution do NEO MARXISTS come up with to OFFER a FULLER EXPLANATION of CRIME
TAYLOR et a; - “ FULL SOCIAL THEORY of DEVIANCE “ - Aimed to Create A Fully Social Theory of Deviance - a COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING of CRIME and DEVINACNE that would HELP CHANGE SOCIETY for the BETTER
- 6 Aspects to Theory
What are the 6 ASPECTS of TAYLOR’S = “ FULL SOCIAL THEORY of DEVIANCE “
- The WIDER ORIGINS of the DEVIANT ACT - in the Unequal Distribution of Wealth & Power in Capitalist Society
2 - The IMMEDIATE CIRCUMSTANCES (Origins) OF the ACT - the Particular Content in Which the Individual Decides to Commit the Act
3 - The ACT ITSELF - and the Meaning For the Actor
4 - The IMMEDIATE ORIGINS Of SOCIAL REACTION : How Family, Friends, Police Respond to Persons Deviant Act
5 - WIDER ORIGINS Of SOCIAL REACTION to DEVIANCE : the Need to Examine Those who Have the Power to Define and Label Behaviour in a Particular Way
6 - The EFFECTS Of LABELLING ON the DEVIANTS FUTURE ACTIONS
- The 6 POINTS are INTER RELATED and NEED to be UNDERSTOOD TOGETHER to MAKE a FULL SOCIAL THEORY of DEVIANCE
What is 1 POSITIVE of NEO MARXISM
+ an INTEGRATIVE APPROACH it Combines Several Perspectives to Provide a Full Social Theory of Deviance
What are 2 NEGATIVES of NEO MARXISM
- IGNORES FEMALE CRIME
Focuses Too Much on Male Crime - CARLEN (1988) - was No Analysis of the Relationship Between Power, Patriarchy and Crime and How this has an Impact on Female
E.g. Feminist Argue Sexual Violence is Used by Men to Maintain the Relationship of Male Violence and Female Subordination, which is Central to the Patriarchal Social Order
What is a WHITE COLLAR CRIME ?
COMMITTED by M/C INDIVIDUALS - ABUSE their WORK POSITIONS For PERSONAL GAIN at the EXPENSE of EMPLOYERS, GOVERNMENT etc
e.g. Fraud, Bribery
What is a CORPORATE CRIME ?
COMMITTED by LARGE COMPANIES or INDIVIDUALS ACTING On BEHALF OF these COMPANIES which DIRECTLY BENEFIT the COMPANY Rather Than the INDIVIDUALS, Involve INCREASE PROFITS or The Survival of the Organisation
