Marxist Explanations Of Crime Flashcards
What is the main cause of crime according to Marxists? Why?
Capitalism has an unequal structure that fuels crime.
Inequalities in wealth cause crime.
The law is created by powerful governments for their own benefit and only protect them.
Capitalism encourages greed.
The law only polices the working class. M/c use their cultural capital to get away.
Sniders theory (Marxist)
The capitalist state are reluctant to pass laws that threaten their interests such as business and profit.
Taylor, Walton and Youngs theory (Neo-Marxist)
Capitalism does create crime, however explains that marxism is deterministic (driven to commit crime out of economic necessity).
However they believe crime is caused by labelling, biological/psychological factors. They take a voluntaristic view, crime is a meaningful action and conscious choice by the actor. (Not swept away by capitalism)
Criticisms of Marxism
Ignores other factors like race and gender
Not all poor people commit crime despite pressures of society.
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates e.g. Japan and Switzerland.
Some aspects of the law act against the rich.
Ignores intraclass crimes.
Crimes in communist societies
