PAPER 3 MARXISM AND CRIME Flashcards
What do Marxists see social control as?
Benefitting the ruling class and trying to control crime so the ruling class can punish and imprison the working class by defining their crimes as more serious.
What do Marxists think of statistics?
They reject statistics that crime is just collated by the working class
What does Gordon say about Crime?
Says it’s a rational response to the greed, competitiveness and class needs promoted by the capitalist system and is found in all social classes
What kind of society does Gordon say we live in?
Dog eat Dog Society
What is a criticism of Gordon?
Some capitalist countries have low crime rates, like Japan
What does Snider argue about capitalist states?
That they are reluctant to pass laws which regulate and harm large capitalist concerns because they want these companies to invest.
When does Snider say the government passes a law to stop harm
Only after a disaster
E.g. BP Oil spill where 11 workers died and huge damage to sea life
What does Jones say about tax avoidance?
It costs the British government 20 x as much as benefit fraud but the government does very little to define it as illegal because the law is created by the rich
What does Reimsn say about the rich and poor?
The rich get richer and the poor get prison. The working class are more likely to get prosecuted. Ensuring working class don’t rebel and don’t threaten capitalism
What happened with Volkswagen?
It was found that many VW cars being sold in America had a device in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested so they polluted more than it actually showed.
What does Neo Marxist Taylor say we need to look at besides the structures of capitalism causing crime?
The individual reason for the act.
What is a left realist evaluation of Marxists?
They’re too dismissive of working class crime and the victims of working class crime are working class themselves and this is the crime that most worries working class people
How do right realists criticise Marxists?
Say crime is not caused by capitalist structure but individuals make rational choice to commit crime. They say crimes are distorted and that crime is a result of poorly socialised individuals
How do neo Marxists adapt Marx’s ideas?
They believe younger people are less deceived by capitalism
What is neo Marxist subcultural theory?
That younger people aren’t all locked in due to being free from financial commitments and are likely to be unemployed.
They also dislike capitalism as they join working class youth subcultures.
