Marxism, power, and crime

Question 1

what do Marxists agree with labelling theorists on?

Answer 1

the law is enforced disproportionately against the wc + crime should be taken at face value BUT crit for failing to examine the wider structure of capitalism

Question 2

what are the 3 elements of crime according to marxists?

Answer 2

1. criminogenic capitalism
2. the state and law making
3. ideological functions of crime and law

Question 3

what is criminogenic capitalism?

Answer 3

the nature of a capitalist system makes crime inevitable in society

Question 4

what do marxists argue happens to crime when capitalism exploits the wc?

Answer 4

• utalitarian crime increases (poverty= its the only way to survive)
• utalitarian crime increases d2 capitalist advertising (only way to achieve these goods)
• violence and vandalism may increase d2 alienation in the workplace

Question 5

what does Gordon argue about crime in different social classes?

Answer 5

• crime is not confined to the working class, cap encourages white collar and corporate crimes e.g. tax evasion
• crime is found in all social classes even if official stats make it seem like a wc phenomenon

Question 6

what does chamberliss argue about the state and law making?- how does snider support this?

Answer 6

Chamberliss- laws are in the interests of the capitalist class, laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy

Snider- the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses/threaten their profitability

Question 7

how do laws, crimes and criminals perform an ideological function for capitalism?

Answer 7

laws are passed that appear to benefit the working class rather than cap
e.g. keeping workers fit for work gives capitalism a caring face (false consciousness of workers)
THUS, crime appears a wc phenomenon, the media portray criminals as disturbed individuals and conceal fact its cap that makes people commit crime

Question 8

3 crits of marxist theory of crime

Answer 8

1. largely ignores the relationship between crime and non class inequalities e.g. gender, ethnicity
2. deterministic- over preditcs amount of crime in working class
3. left realists- marxism ignores intra-class crime where both criminals are working class