Sociology - C&D - Theories - Marxism

Question 1

What does Karl Marx believe about crime?

Answer 1

Crime and deviance does not have a function for the whole of society

Question 2

Who does Marx thinks benefits from crime and deviance?

Answer 2

The bourgeoisie ruling class

Question 3

What do Marxists look at in relation to explaining crime and deviance?

Answer 3

The type of laws that are passed and enforced and who benefits from these laws

Question 4

What does Marxism think drives people to commit crime?

Answer 4

The capitalist system which is “criminogenic” (crime is a natural outcome)

Question 5

What do marxists think the dominant ideologies are?

Answer 5

Ideas that suit the powerful bourgeoise and their interests and aim to put the powerless proletariat in place

Question 6

Capitalist ideology

Answer 6

Presented as fact and makes up our reality so everyone accepts these ideas and fail to question whether they are true. Society is brainwashed into accepting these ideas and

Question 7

What does Althusser (1970) state the proletariat is controlled by?

Answer 7

Two institutions; the RSA (Repressive State Apparatus) and the ISA (Ideological State Apparatus)

Question 8

Repressive State Apparatus

Answer 8

Direct obvious and formal controls such as government, police and criminal justice system. can violently operate

Question 9

Ideological State Apparatus

Answer 9

Indirect less obvious and informal, like family, media and religion, showing the public who are criminal/deviant and use these messages to scare and divide us

Question 10

What do Marxists describe alienation as?

Answer 10

A sense of powerlessness, lack of control and disconnectedness felt by the proletariat due to exploitation

Question 11

What does alienation drive people to do?

Answer 11

commit crime

Question 12

What does Bonger (1916) state?

Answer 12

Much crime is caused by poverty, during economic depression the crime rate amongst the poor increases

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of marxist theories of crime?

Answer 13

• Feminists disagree - Crime still exists without capitalism - Jones (2001) criticises

Question 14

Why do feminists disagree with marxist theories of crime?

Answer 14

They put too much emphasis on class inequality and ignore the patriarchy and racism in the enforcement of laws

Question 15

Why have marxists been criticised for stating that communism would remove crime from society?

Answer 15

Communism occurred in many Eastern European countries and Russia in the 60’s and 70’s but crime was still a problem so disproves the idea that crime is due to capitalism

Question 16

Why does Jones criticise how Marxists view the ruling class?

Answer 16

They may not be a monopolising power and the role of power may be more complex as capitalists cannot always pass the laws and rules they want

Question 17

What does Gordon (1973) look at?

Answer 17

The rational choice of crime

Question 18

What does Gordon’s (1973) rational choice of crime theory suggest?

Answer 18

That crime is a rational response to situations that people find themselves in and capitalism creates the conditions for crime to occur (Ghetto crime) (Corporate crime)

Question 19

What did Chambliss (1976) look at?

Answer 19

Capitalism and Crime

Question 20

Why does Chambliss believe the capitalist economic system generates crime?

Answer 20

The desire to consume despite a lack of money, removes the proletariat as a surplus work force, enforcement of laws leads to idea that crime is concentrated in the lower classes

Question 21

What is the advantage of gordon and chambliss’ work?

Answer 21

Supported by Slapper and Tombs (1999) - influenced neo marxism

Question 22

Slapper and Tombs (1999)

Answer 22

Devised critical social science to explain the key features of marxist theory in relation to corporate crime.

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of Gordon and Chambliss’ work?

Answer 23

• Functionalists would reject - Jones (2001) criticises

Question 24

Why would functionalists reject marxist views (gordon and chambliss)

Answer 24

They don’t think there is class conflict and believe crime is inevitable

Question 25

Why does Jones (2001) criticise marxist theories like gordon and chambliss?

Answer 25

Capitalism doesn’t always produce high crime rates as in Switzerland the country is very capitalist but crime rates are low