Marxist Approach to Crime

Question 1

Give 6 points in regards to the marxist perspective of crime and deviance

Answer 1

• Criminogenic capitalism
• W/C crime visibility
• M/C crime invisibility
• Law making
• Ideological function
• Neo-Marxism

Question 2

What is criminogenic capitalism?

Answer 2

The idea that crime is a rational response to capitalism and is inevitable - found in all classes

Question 3

What is law making in terms of marxism?

Answer 3

The idea that the ruling class aim to take advantage of their position and repress the lower classes

Question 4

What is ideological function in terms of marxism?

Answer 4

The idea that crime diverts attention away from capitalism and focuses attention on the ‘evil’ working class

Question 5

What do neo-marxists state about crime?

Answer 5

That groups (subcultural theory) on the margins of society aren’t completely oppressed and crime is a choice

Question 6

Give an example of criminogenic capitalism and conflicting evidence

Answer 6

• Relative poverty - people lack the minimum amount of income in order to achieve an average standard of living
• Deterministic - presumes all working class can’t avoid committing crime

Question 7

Give an example of working class visibility in crime and conflicting evidence

Answer 7

• Benefit fraud campaign (all over buses, billboards etc.)

- Doesn’t include non-material crime such as violence

Question 8

Give an example of middle class invisibility in crime and conflicting evidence

Answer 8

• Amazon - owed 600 million in tax and only paid 1 million

- Japan - capitalist yet has a low crime rate

Question 9

Give an example of law making and conflicting evidence

Answer 9

• Mike Ashley - bad treatment of workers, white collar crime, corporate crime etc.
• Upper class such as Mike Ashley have the resources to cover up their crimes

Question 10

Give an example of ideological function and conflicting evidence

Answer 10

-The Plague - law introduced which forced workers to accept a low wage, despite small workforce

• Laws made against the ruling classes (e.g. fox hunting)
• Smoke screen - makes them look equal to use (false class consciousness)

Question 11

Give an example of neo-marxism and conflicting evidence

Answer 11

• Working class youth - most common group to offer resistance through clothing and language
• Assumes criminals only want to overthrow capitalism - some criminals prey on the poor