Marxist Theory: Crime And Law

Question 1

What does Marxist say?

Answer 1

They assume that behaviour is affected by being part of an unequal, capitalist society. Marxists argue that society is divided into two distinctive groups.

Question 2

What are the bourgeoisie?

Answer 2

The ruling class, made up of capitalists, the owners of ‘the means of production’ for example factories and land

Question 3

What are the proletariat?

Answer 3

The working class, members who are exploited by the ruling class, in order for them to make profit. For example the workers at factories

Question 4

What are the three main elements of Marxists view of crime and the law?

Answer 4

Capitalism causes crime
Law making and law enforcement are biased
The law performs ideological functions

Question 5

What is capitalism causing crime?

Answer 5

Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society, because capitalism is a crime causing system.

Such as the exploitation of the working class, driving people to poverty and therefore crime may be the only way for them to survive

Capitalism pushes consumer goods through advertising, resulting in utilitarian crimes, for example theft to obtain the.

Question 6

What is law making and law enforcement bias?

Answer 6

Marxists see these as serving the interest of the capitalist class.
Marxists state that law is enforced selectively. White collar crime and corporate crimes of the rich are much less likely to be prosecuted, compared to working class street crimes.

Question 7

What is ideological functions of crime and law?

Answer 7

Marxists argue that it’s an ideology, a set of ideas that conceal the inequality of capitalist society.
For example, selective enforcement makes it look like as if crime is the fault of the working class. This divides the working class, encouraging workers to blame working class criminals for their problems.
This shifts the attention away from more serious ruling class crimes