theories of crime- marxist Flashcards
what are the three main marxist theories of crime
crimogenic capitalism
the state and law making
ideological functions of crime and law
summarise crimogenic capitalism
capitalism encourages crime
advertising capitalist products and goods encourages utilitarian crime- to achieve these goods
working class dont have life control or structure due to capitalism, therefore commit crime out of anger
how does state and law making cause crime due to capitalism
current laws only benefit m/c and capitalist society.
government and cjs, are predominantly m/c so they IMPLEMENT LAWS
creates selective law enforcement where w/c and ethnic minorities can be charged more and criminalised
where as m/c and capitalist crime are ignored to protect business and reputation.
what is selective law enforcement
power to choose how people are punished for crime and deviance
m/c have power due to wealth.
what are the ideologicval functions of crime and law
ideological function- w/c dont question laws because they are under the impression that they are positive and beneficial. therefore believe society is equal.
e.g. the health and safety at work act, gives is a law that benefits w.c
the health and safety at work act, gives the impression that laws also benefit w/c
PEARCE SAYS ALL LAWS BENEFIT M.C TOO.
how does the health and safety at work law benefit both sides
w/c- safe conditions at work. for e.g. safe equipment and clean buildings
m/c working population wont get sick or hurt. more inclined to work. resistant and reliable workforce. maintain capitalist economy
what are the laws which benefit m/c.
chambliss- private property laws ensure wealth is kept for the m/c.
evaluate marxist ideas
weakness-
deterministic- w/c dont all commit crime
switzerland and japan are capitalist with LOW CRIME
m/c prosecutions happen all the time, however can be argued its to prove ideological function
ignore gender and ethnicity
how do capitalism preform ideological function
structures to convince w.c that society is just.
laws- make it seem they benefit w.c when they mostly benefit m/c
prosecutions against m/c, to maintain ideological function of a fair and just society
strengths of the marxist opinion
explains how law benefits capitalism and exploits w.c.
provides wide context of crime
what are the similarities and differences between marxist and functionalist
similar -both structural theories
- look at wider societies and causes of crime
difference-
functionalist agree with crime stats
marxist say crime stats are socially constructed
functionalist believe value consensus, marxist dont
why are crime stats socially constructed
some go unreported and unrecorded
arrests and stop and searches are racially biased and disproportionate
ignores m/c crime
