marxism - strengths and weaknesses

Question 1

STRENGHTH: does Marxist theories include a range of explanations for crime across different classes

Answer 1

they have a range of explanations across different classes. FOR EXAMPLE:
bourgeoise
- capitalism promotes greed
- therefore commit crimes such as WCC ( tax evasion
proletariat:
- forced into poverty by exploitation of the bourgeoise
- crimes such as theft

Question 2

STRENGTH: what does marxism demonstarte

Answer 2

how laws reflect the differences in power across classes and how inequalities can lead to crime ( property laws disadvantaging the WC and benefiting the MC)

Question 3

STRENGTH: what does it highlight the impact of

Answer 3

selective law enforcement and how crimes committed by the bourgeoise are under policed. FOR EXAMPLE: the saints and roughnecks , shows how crime can be caused by inequalities in scoiety

Question 4

WEAKNESSES: does marxism focus too heavily on one cause

Answer 4

• focuses too heavily on social class as a - cause of crime
• doesn’t look at other inequality’s in society
• e.g gender and ethnicity

Question 5

WEAKNESS: are all bourgeoise crimes hidden and protected

Answer 5

• not all bourgeoise crimes are hidden and protected
  FOR EXAMPLE:
• bernie madoff
• prosecuted for ponzi scheme
• sentenced to 150 years

this shows that their argument about crime and punishment being restricted to the wc is flawed

Question 6

WEAKNESS: do all wc people commit crime

Answer 6

no,
- not everyone is going to be effected by the structure of society
- not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (japan)
- therefore its deterministic - assumes if your WC your destined to commit crime and cannot change that, ignores free will