Marxism view on crime Flashcards
Criminogenic capitalism
-Capitalism causes crime
-Poverty-> crime is the only way the w/c can survive, turn to utilitarian crime
-Consumerism-> crime is the only way the w/c can “keep up with the joneses”, resort to utilitarian crime
-Alienation-> the w/c experience a lack of control over their lives and experience frustration and aggression. Turn to violent crime such as domestic abuse to release their frustration e.g. Ansley- women are the takers of shit + Zarestky- safe haven
How capitalism creates crime among the bourgeoisie?
-In a ‘dog eats dog’ world, where individuals will do whatever it takes to win in the pursuit of profit
-Encourages them to commit white collar and corporate crime like fraud and tax evasion
How does the law/ law enforcement serve the interests of the ruling class?
Chambliss (1975)
-The introduction of English law into British East African colonies
-Introduced tax in east Africa which meant that Britain’s economy could flourish
-Ruling class have the power to prevent introductions of laws which threaten their interests e.g. the Non-dom status which allowed the rich to avoid paying UK taxes if they claimed the UK wasn’t their main residence
—> Snider (1993)- argues a capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that threaten their profitability
Ideological functions of crime and law
Pearce (1976):
-The m/c push for laws that appear to benefit the w/c to make them feel as if they’re being cared for to prevent a revolution
-Giving capitalism a ‘caring face’, but also creates false consciousness amongst the workers
Evaluation of Marxism
-Ignores other factors such as gender and ethnicity
-Deterministic, not all poor people commit crime despite the pressure they face from poverty
-Marxism fails to explain intra-class crime where both the criminal and the victim are w/c
