MARXIST PERSPECTIVE OF CRIME

Question 1

Gordon: the state and law making

Answer 1

Marxists see law enforcement as:
Criminogenic Capitalism
- Serving the capitalists
- laws are to protect private property
- organised crime is a major operation in the west

Question 2

Chambliss: Selective Law Enforcement

Answer 2

The US supports capitalists in 3 ways:
- criminals are labelled “social failures”
- imprisonment of w/c keeps blame away from the system
- defines criminals as animals

Question 3

Pearce: ideological functions

Answer 3

Laws such as Health and Safety Act create a false class consciousness by creating a fake caring face of capitalism

Question 4

Neo Marxism: takes ideas from traditional Marxists and Interactionism

Answer 4

Looks at why people commit crime and why criminals get treated harshly and labelled

Question 5

Ian Taylor: impact of globalisation

Answer 5

R/C has moved operations abroad where they can break laws that are not in place and bribe authorities

Question 6

Is Marxist perspective useful?

Answer 6

Useful:
Gordon - criminogenic capitalism; crime is a rational response to capitalism
Chambliss - Selective Law Enforcement: gives us an understanding of white crim
Pearce - Ideological Functions: Fake Caring Face of Capitalism
Neo Marx - look at Y ppl commit crime

Not Useful
- ignores other types of crime and over emphasised class
- over emphasise property crime
- fail to acknowledge the law protects everyone
- doesn’t provide solutions