Marxist & Neo-Marxist Theories of C&D Flashcards
1
Q
Traditional Marxist Theories
A
- Believe structural inequality leads to resentments - ultimately causes conflict that breaks value consensus
- Social inequality is driving force behind crime
2
Q
Key Points of trad. Marxists
A
- Capitalist Society is Criminogenic
- Law reflects Ruling Class interests
- Selective Law Enforcement
3
Q
Capitalist society is criminogenic
A
Economic self-interest, greed, and personal gain, competitiveness and inequality of capitalism = crime
4
Q
Law reflects ruling class interests
A
- Law is made by RC
- Chambliss (1975) - will reflect their interests above all others
- eg. CEOs not liable for prosecution if company is criminal
5
Q
Selective law enforcement
A
Idea that crime is mainly a WC phenomenon due to selective law enforcement - eg. stop and search
6
Q
Neo-Marxists and crime
A
Attempted to develop a more sophisticated approach to crime than the sometimes crude assessments of Marxists
7
Q
Key Points of Neo-Marxists
A
- Marxists too deterministic
- Crime is voluntary
- WC crime is symbolic - Robin Hood figures
8
Q
Taylor et al: The New Criminology
A
- Accepted elements of Marxists - had to be integrated with elements of interactionism
- Blended Marxism w/ Labelling
- Ruling Class is hegemonic
- Moral Panic & Demonisation
9
Q
Ruling Class is Hegemonic
A
- Elites use media to give unbalanced views to make their enemies (the WC) look guilty
- Legitimises cruel actions (eg. harsh policing) and makes society reliant on their knowledge
10
Q
Moral Panic & Demonisation
A
- Folk Devils
- Whipping up a storm in the media to demonise people who threaten you or to distract everyone from your criminal actions
11
Q
Dimensions to be explored
A
- Immediate origins of societal reaction - how do other people react to the discovery of the act
- Immediate origins of the deviant act - specific situation leading criminals to choose to commit a deviant act
