Marxist theories of crime✅ Flashcards
what do marxists think cause crime
- capitalism itself causes crime
- system is based on exploitation of w/c
- leads to increasing wealth of one class and increasing poverty of the other
describe Gordon’s view of capitalism being criminogenic
- crime is inevitable as capitalism by nature causes crime
- crime is the only way w/c can obtain consumer goods that they are encouraged by advertising to buy
- this results in utilitarian crimes eg. theft
- crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and is found in all social classes
according to Gordon, why does alienation and lack of control over their lives result in crime in ALL social classes?
W/C=
- to survive poverty
- to gain consumer goods
- to release anger and frustration caused by alienation
U/C=
- to gain profit (eg: tax evasion)
what are some contemporary examples that highlight Gordon’s work
- summer 2024 riots
–> W/C releasing anger/frustration due to alienation - capitalism made them think immigrants are causing unemployment
describe Chambliss’ Selective Law Making theory
- see law as something created by the ruling class to serve interests of wealthy capitalist class
- from this perspective, legal acts may be harmful or some groups may view some illegal acts as harmless (eg: revolutionary activism)
how does Graham elaborate on Chambliss’ Selective Law Making Theory
- looked at how government policed illegal trade in drugs
- found that politicians agreed to not greatly restrict amphetamine production and distribution as most of it was sold by large profitting pharmaceutical companies rather than ‘criminals’
what did Snider find in regards to Selective Law Making
capitalist governments are reluctant to pass laws to regulate the activities of businesses that may threaten their profitability
describe Reiman’s Selective Enforcement of Laws theory
- ‘street crimes’ are much more likely to be reported and persued compared to ‘white collar’ crimes
- therefore the more likely a crime is to be committed by higher class people, the less likely it is to be treated as a criminal offense
what does Gordon say regarding selective enforcement of laws
- helps to maintain ruling class power and reinforce ruling class ideology
- gives impression that criminals are mainly w/c
- divides workers and encourages workers to blame criminals for problems rather than capitalism
give an example of how Laws perform an ideological function
- laws are occasionally passed to apear to benefit the w/c
- Box notes how these are often not for the benefit of the workers
- eg: health and safety laws give capitalism a ‘friendly face’ however it just keeps individuals fit to continue working
what are some overall A03 points of traditional Marxist views on crime
- builds on work of labelling theorists✅
- ignores link between crime and non-class inequalities❌
- neo-marxists argue it is too deterministic❌
describe an A03 point of traditional marxist views on crime regarding building on the work of labelling theorists ✅
- both agree that the creation/enforcement of laws are socially constructed to benefit the powerful
- however Marxists fgo further and explain where the source of power comes from (capitalism and ruling class)
describe an A03 point of traditional Marxist views on crime regarding ignoring the link between crime and non-class inequalities
feminists argue that laws are created to benefit men and maintain patriarchy
describe an A03 point of traditional Marxist views on crime regarding determinism
- Neo-Marxists argue traditional Marxists are too deterministic
- they need to look at individual choice –> voluntaristic
- crime is a meaningful and conscious choice
describe the Neo-Marxist view on crime
- recognise there are problems with the traditional Marxist view
- recognise w/c criminals made an active choice to break law
- however, they argue that this was sometimes a positive political act against the bourgeoisie
–> EG: Black Panthers were a rights group that broke law during political activism
describe Young and Taylor’s The New Crimonology
- when considering any deviant act, they argued Marxists should consider:
1. the wider origins of the deviant act
2. the immediate origins of act
3. the actual act
4. the immediate origin of social reactions
5. the wider origins of social reaction
6. the outcomes of social reaction of deviant’s further action
describe ‘1. the wider origins of the deviant act’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
- radical criminologists need to locate the deviant act within the wider societal system : capitalism and all inequalities that go with it
describe ‘2. the immediate origins of act’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
- the social context in which an individual chooses to commit a crime
describe ‘3. the actual act’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
attention needs to be given to the individual concerned
describe ‘4. the immediate origin of social reaction’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
immidiate response to those around the deviant
eg: family, police
describe ‘5. the wider origins of social reaction’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
the immediate reaction needs to be located in the wider social system
- particular attention payed to who has the power to define act as deviant
describe ‘6. the outcome of social reaction on deviant’s further action’ as something Marxists should consider according to Young and Taylor
important to recognise the effects of the labelling process on the deviant
describe Hall’s Moral panic
- in the ’70s an outbreak of ‘mugging’ created moral panic
- mugging = socially constructed
- media amplification lead to further spiralling
how did Hall break down his Moral Panic analysis using Taylor and Young’s Theory
- the wider origins of crime
= economic recession/ crisis of hegemony - the immediate origins of act
= high unemployment particularly among black men - act itself
= muggings –> need money to survive - the immediate social reaction
= media outrage and police targeting - wider origins of social reaction
= scapegoating, dividing the w/c - the outcome of social reaction
= police racism, no revolution
what are some overall A03 points of the Neo-Marxist view on crime
- less deterministic ✅
- left realists criticise ❌
- fails to explain intra-class crime❌
describe an A03 point of Neo-Marxism regarding determinism
- less deterministic than traditional marxism
- recognises individuals’ free will
describe an A03 point of Neo-Marxism regarding left realists criticising
- romantisises w/c criminals as ‘robin hoods’
–> fighting capitalism by redistributing wealth - ignores the effect it has on victims
describe an A03 point of Neo-Marxism regarding failing to explain intra-class crime
- if crime results from individuals wanting to make society fairer it fails to explain intra-class crimes
(when victim and perpetrator belong to same class)
