Marxist perspective on crime Flashcards
What is the marxist view on crime?
Marxists see all of societies institutions such as the family, education, religion and the government as helping to maintain these class inequalities. Crime is no different.
Marxists agree with labeling theorists that the law is disproportionately enforced against the working class, and that therefore official crime statistics cannot be taken at face value.
For Marxists, capitalist societies encourage crime and explain why it exists.
What are the three main elements of a Marxists view on crime?
- Criminogenic capitalism
- Selective law enforcement and law making
- Ideological functions to crime and law
Define criminogenic
Criminogenic - causing or likely to cause criminal behaviour.
Criminogenic capitalism - reaction to exploitation - working class crime
Crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic – by its very nature its CAUSES crime.
Due to capitalism exploiting the WC, this may give rise to blue collar crime…
Poverty – only way to survive
Obtaining consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising leads to utilitarian crimes i.e. theft
Alienation – lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration and utilitarian crimes i.e. vandalism.
Criminogenic capitalism- utilitarian crime
However, it is not just WC that commit crimes.
Capitalism is a ‘dog eat dog’ system of ruthless competition and greed amongst capitalists.
Capitalists need to win at all costs, or they will go out of business.
This leads to white collar crime, such as tax evasion, breaches of health and safety laws etc.
Gordon (1976) argues, crime is a rational response to the capitalist system, and hence it is found amongst all social classes – even though the official statistics make it appear to be a WC phenomenon.
examples: Google,Apple, Facebook,Amazon, Microsoft
How does crime maintain social inequality?
- Selective law making
- Selective law enforcement
What is selective law making?
Unlike functionalists who see the law as reflecting the value consensus and representing the interests of society as a whole, Marxists see law making and law enforcement only serving the interests of the capitalist class.
This means that the laws themselves are socially constructed to benefit the rich and powerful.
Box
Snider
Chambliss
Box (1983) - selective law making sociologist
Chambliss (1975) argues that laws that protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy - these primarily protect people who own property.
Box argues (1983) that the rich often engage in activities which results in death, injury, theft, fraud but the activities are protected under the law – health and safety laws.
Snider (1993) - selective law making
Snider (1993) argues that Governments are reluctant to pass laws which regulate the activities of businessmen or threaten profits.
Chambliss (1975) - selective law making
Chambliss (1975) argues that laws that protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy - these primarily protect people who own property.
How does selective law enforcement create crime?
Official statistics give the impression that WC commit more crime. However, Marxists argues this is merely a result of selective law enforcement.
Chambliss argues there is one law for the rich and one law for the poor, with crime control focused on the working class, who are the most likely to be prosecuted of a crime.
Pearce (1976) argues that biggest crimes of all are those committed by the ruling class – what he calls ‘the crimes of the powerful’, yet they rarely get prosecuted.
Chambliss - selective law enforcement
Chambliss argues there is one law for the rich and one law for the poor, with crime control focused on the working class, who are the most likely to be prosecuted of a crime.
Pearce- selective law enforcement
Pearce (1976) argues that biggest crimes of all are those committed by the ruling class – what he calls ‘the crimes of the powerful’, yet they rarely get prosecuted.
rich people = scandal
poor people = criminal
What are the ideological functions of crime and how do they ensure there is not a revolution?
PEARCE: Laws which benefit the working class - i.e. health and safety laws
Media depiction of criminals - deranged, disturbed
ideological functions: how do laws benefit capitalism
Even laws that are seen to benefit the WC such as health and safety laws in the workplace, actually benefits capitalism, as it keeps the workers fit for work, and ensures profit can be maintained.
Pearce argues this gives capitalism a ‘caring’ face, and creates false consciousness amongst the workers.
Jenabi- argues that even these protection laws are not rigorously enforced. For example, in 2007 a new corporate law against homicide passed, but despite this only 1 UK company has been successfully prosecuted, despite the large number of deaths at work caused by employers’ negligence.
