Marxist Perspective On Crime And Deviance

Question 1

What are all the key words on Marxism in crime and deviance

Answer 1

Superstructure/ economic base/ capitalism/ ideology/ criminogenic Capitalism/ non-utilitarin
white-collar crime/ selective law enforcement/ ideological functions/ hegemonic curtains/ moral panics

Question 2

What are all the key names of crime and deviance with Marxist persoective

Answer 2

Gordon, chambliss, snider, Pearce, Taylor et al, hall

Question 3

What are Marxist explanations of below statements

1.laws are a reflection of ruling class ideology

2 protection of property is at the heart of the capitalist system

3. Those who oppose the ruling class are criminalised
4. Crime is a natural response to inequality
5. There is one law for the rich and one for the poor
6. Law enforcement blames the individual for the crime not the system
7. Working class crime is an act of rebellion against a failing system

Answer 3

1. Trespassing laws, no laws on white collar crime
2. Yes, as ruling class wish to protect property as it benefits them

3.neslson mansella is an example, as well as the sufraggettes, alienation

4p, white-collar crimes have little laws regarding them

6. Yes, as people protesting can still get convicted

7.yes, as it will usually be as working class who are pushed to crime

Question 4

What do Marxists believe capitalism is based on

Answer 4

Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the WC for profit. This is damaging to the WC and may lead to crime:

1.Poverty may mean that crime is the only way to survive.

2. Crime may be the only way to obtain consumer goods.

3.Alienation and a lack of control may lead to non-utilitarian crime such as violence and
vandalism

Question 5

Gordon

Answer 5

Crime is a rational response to capitalism and therefore it is found in all social classes

Question 6

What is a criticism of gordon

Answer 6

This does not explain opportunists who turn to crime as a last resort. This also does not explain why not all individuals commit crime if it is a rational response to capitalism.

Question 7

Chambliss

Answer 7

Chambliss: The state and law making

Marxists see law enforcement as serving the needs of the capitalist class.
hambliss (1975) argues that laws to protect private property are the corner stone of capitalist
economy.

He also argues that ORGANISED CRIME is a major operationin Western capitalist society.

Essentially, authorities often ‘turn a blind eye to organised crime as high levels of corruption mean that senior figures (SUch as polficians or the police) are themselves involved in the criminal activity.

Question 8

What is an example of selective law enforcement

Answer 8

Marc dutroux

Question 9

Chambliss beliefs

Answer 9

chambliss believes that:

1) Those who operate organised crime in the USA belong to the economic and political elite.

2) The ruling class as a whole benefit from organised crime as money used from crime is then Used to finance legal business.

3) Corruption of local politicians and law enforcement agencies is essential for organised crime to
flourish.

4) Criminal acts that favour ruling class interests will not be punished
The ruling class also do not introduce laws that affect their interests.

Question 10

Snider

Answer 10

Snider (1993) argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities
of businesses that may impact on their profitability

Question 11

Gordon selective law enforcement

Answer 11

Gordon: Selective Law Enforcement: also believes that law enforcement in the USA supports the
Capitalist system in three ways:

1) Indivicuals who commit crimes are defined as ‘social failures’ and are seen as responsible for
their actions, therefore blame is directed to the individual and NOT on capitalist society (and its
problems

2) Imprisonment of selected members of the working class quashes opposition to the system. For example, black people in America are heavily over-represented in arrest figures.

3) Defining criminals as ‘animals’ and ‘misfits’ provides a justification for their imprisonment. This Keeps them hidden from public view and so the rebellion against the capitalist system is swept
under the carpet.

Question 12

Examples of when law enforcement didn’t protect the ruling class

Answer 12

Dominic Cummings, leverson

Question 13

What is the law made giving police more power

Answer 13

The police crime and sentencing and courts act 2022 strengthens polices power to tackle disruptive protests

Question 14

Pearce

Answer 14

Pearce: ldeological functions of law and crime
The law crime and criminals perform ideological functions for capitalism. Laws occasionally appear to be for the benefit of the working class such as health and safety laws.

However- Pearce (1976) argues that these laws benefit the ruling class by keeping individuals fit for work and exploitation by Creating a false class conscioUsness through a fake caring face of Capitalism. Also because law enforcement is selective crime appears to be a working class phenomenon. This works as divide and rule as the working class blame criminals rather than capitalism

Question 15

Neo marxism

Answer 15

Neo-Marxism

The most important Neo-Marxist contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance has been The New Criminology by Taylor, Walton and Young (1973)
Taylor el al agree with some traditional Marxist arguments- yet they argue that traditional Marxism is too deterministic and sees that people commit crime out of economic necessity.

Taylor et al fake a voluntaristic view (free will) they see crime as a choice. They argue
criminals are not passive puppets but that they are trying to change society through
deliberate criminal acts.
neme

Emphasis on freedom is evident the fact that they want a classless society. They argue
individuals should not be labelled deviant becaUse they are different. In an ideal socialist society people would be free to live as they wish.

Taylor et al. suggested it was necessary to draw on both struUctural and interactionist approaches
to explore crime. They argued to understand how crime is socially constructed we need to
developa ‘fully social theory of deviance.”

Question 16

Ian taylor

Answer 16

Ian Taylor uses a Marxist perspective to explain the impact globalisation has had on crime. He argues that T.N.C.’s have moved production to cheaper countries which has caUsed Britain to become de-industrialised. Unemployment, temporary and part-time working and job insecurity have increased deprivation which fuels criminal behaviour. Also those with no job prospects and little hope often descend into alcoholism and/or drug dependency.

Question 17

Graham taylor

Answer 17

lan Taylor
an Taylor uses a Marxist perspective to explain the impact globalisation has had on crime. He argues that T.N.C.’s have moved production to cheaper countries which has caUsed Britain to become de-industrialised. Unemployment, temporary and part-time working and job insecurity have increased deprivation which fuels criminal behaviour. Also those with no job prospects and little hope often descend into alcoholism and/or drug dependency.

Graham Taylor does not focUS on the rise of unemployment he argues that TNC’s are committing crimes themselves. Some of these are ‘green’ (environmental) crimes such as dumping toxic waste in developing countries. Also many firms choose to locatewhere laws are either softer or not enforced or where they can bribe officials. As profits from TNCcontribute to the economy. from a Marxist perspective, law makers are reluctant to punish them meaning that the amount of white collar crime is significantly under reported and detected.

Question 18

Strengths of Marxism and neo marxism in crime

Answer 18

These theorists help locate crime in the context of a wider society based of class inequality

They also give us a greater understanding of white collar crime

Question 19

Limitations of Marxism and neo marxism in crime and deviance

Answer 19

They over emphasise class and ignore gender and ethnicity

they over emphasise property crime and don’t focus on serious offences such as rape and
murder.

They have little to say.about deviance.

They fail to give solutions other than communism.

They ignore victims.

They fail to acknowledge, that the law protects everyone.

Question 20

What is usefula Nd not useful about gordon

Answer 20

Useful: Criminogenic capitalism helps locate crime in the context of wiser society

Not useful: they over emphasise class and ignore gender and ethnicity

Question 21

What is useful and not useful about chambliss

Answer 21

Useful: selective law enforcement shows how there will always be laws protecting the middle class

Not useful: cases such as Jeffrey Epstein contradict this , over emphasise property crime and deviance is usually regarding serious offences

Question 22

What is useful and not useful about neo marxism

Answer 22

Useful: full social theory of deviance

Not useful: doesn’t provide solutions

Question 23

What is useful and not useful about Pearce

Answer 23

Useful: ideological functions - caring face of capitalism, divide and rule

Not useful: they fail to acknowledge that the law protects everyone

Question 24

What is the 30 mark usefulness structure

Answer 24

(theorist) is useful because

(Same theorist) is not useful because

A more useful theory is…