Neo-marxism - causes of crime

Question 1

Which sociologists made up The New Criminology

Answer 1

Taylor, Walton and Young

Question 2

What do The New Criminology agree and disagree on with traditional Marxists

Answer 2

They agree with traditional marxists that: Capitalism is based on exploitation, class, conflict, inequality
State makes and enforced laws selectively on WC and a classless society is the solution
BUT disagree and think that traditional Marxism is too deterministic - Suggest we are driven to commit crime due to external factors and ignores individual choice

Question 3

What is The New Criminology theory

Answer 3

Voluntaristic anti-deterministic approach: crime is a meaningful choice
Crime is often a political act to change society e.g distribution of wealth
Need a ‘fully social theory of deviance’ to understand crime and improve society

Question 4

What is the ‘Fully social theory of deviance’ to understand crime

Answer 4

Combines structure and action
Structure: Inequalities of wealth, who has power to enforce and make the laws (Marxism traditional)
Action: meaning of the action, societal reaction, effects of deviant labels (Labelling)

Question 5

What are 2 positives of the Neo-Marxist approach to understand crime

Answer 5

Unique as offers a combination of structure and action
Less deterministic then traditional Marxists by recognising individual free will

Question 6

What are 2 negatives evaluation points for the Neo-Marxist approach to understanding crime

Answer 6

Left Realists: makes criminals look like ‘Robin Hood’ heroes who fight to redistribute wealth and ignores the impact on the victims
Cannot explain intraclass crime - crime committed against someone in the same class