marxist theories of crime Flashcards
what is the key marxist idea?
that society is divided into two classes, the bourgeoisie minority and the proletariat minority. They argue there is conflict between the two classes due to the nature of a capitalist society.
What are the three components of crime according to marxists?
capitalism being criminogenic, selective law enforcement/making and ideological functions of crime
why do marxists argue non-utilitarian crime exists?
due to alienation and frustration, resulting in individuals wanting to gain status
why do marxists argue non-utilitarian crime exists?
As individuals feel frustrated and alienated in society, so need to find an alternative route to gain status
how do marxists explain crime of the elite?
they believe due to the dog-eat-dog nature of capitalism, corporate crime allows the ruling class to gain financial benefit against their capitalist counterparts, and hence are almost encouraged to do so.
what does william chambliss argue?
that laws are made to protect the private property of the rich.
what is selective enforcement?
this is when the laws is disproportionately enforced against certain groups, marxists argue this is against the working class and street crimes.
why is selective law enforcement bad?
selective law enforcement makes crime appear to be the fault of the working class, when in reality corporate crime is a far more serious problem. As well as this, it means the more dangerous corporate crime is not punished or even acknowledged, which allows it to carry on.
how does crime act as an ideological function?
crime acts as a way of concealing the inequalities faced in a capitalist society.
Carson found that out of two hundred companies who had broken safety laws, how many were prosecuted?
three
How many successful prosecutions were there for corporate homicide across an period?
one
