Traditional Marxism Flashcards
For traditional Marxists…
the structure of capitalism explains crime
What are the 4 Marxists explanations for crime/deviance?
- Crimogenic Capitalism
- The State and Law making
- Selective Enforcement
- Ideological Functions of Crime and Law
What is crimogenic capitalism?
capitalism causes crime and is based on exploitation of WC
What does GAP stand for?
G - Greed -> crime may be the only way to obtain consumer goods
A - Alienation -> lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration
P - Poverty -> May mean that crime is the only way to survive
According to Marxist, why do WC commit crime?
Only way they can survive
only way they can get consumer goods that capitalism promotes
frustration and aggression from lack of control in their lives may result in crimes such as violence and vandalism
this known a GAP crime
According to Marxist, why do RC commit crime?
Notion of the American Dream encourages people to own a lot of property and get richer
David Gordon - crime is a rational response to capitalism and found in all social classes
Examples of crimogenic capitalism amongst WC
- Vandalism
- Violence
- Theft
Examples of crimogenic capitalism amongst RC
- Google tax evasion
- Breaking health and safety laws
Crimogenic capitalism A03
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates - Japan has much lower crime rate than America
What is The State and Law Making?
Law making and enforcement serves the capitalist class
What does Chambliss (1975) argue for State and Law making?
RC have the power to prevent laws that harm their interests
Example of State and Law making
Introduction of English law into Britain’s East African colonies
- Tea and coffee plantations required a lot of labour
- the African population was reluctant at first
- the British enforced a taxation that must be paid in cash
- No payment=criminal offence
- Only way to pay the tax would be working on the plantations
State and Law making A03
The criminal justice system does sometimes implement laws and policies to benefit society e.g. NHS/health & safety laws
What is selective enforcement?
The CJS chooses which crimes to prosecute and which they will ‘turn a blind eye to’
What did Reiman (2001) find for Selective enforcement?
There is a disproportionately high rate of prosecutions for street crimes e.g. burglary and assault
What does Chambliss argue (Selective enforcement)?
CJS focuses on ‘crimes of the streets’, ignoring ‘crime of the suites’
Selective enforcement example
December 1984, an explosion at a pesticide plant in Bhopal India, owned by Union Carbide, lead to deadly gas fumes leaking into the atmosphere and toxic chemicals into the ground
- happened due to health and safety neglect
- 20,000 deaths and 120 000 cases of people suffering from health problems
- agreed to pay out some $470 million in compensation (1989)
Selective Enforcement A03
Labelling theory suggests that police label the WC instead of just patrolling more
What are Ideological Functions of Crime and Law?
Crime and Law spread ideas that help to keep workers passive
What does Pearce say about Ideological Functions of Crime and Law?
Some laws benefit society such as NHS but these laws give capitalism a ‘caring face’ - promoting a false class consciousness
What does Gordon say about Ideological Functions of Crime and Law?
Purpose of the ‘caring face’ of capitalism is to distract the WC from their exploitation
- puts WC against each other
Ideological Functions of Crime and Law Example
Benefit thieves’ adverts
Ideological Functions of Crime and Law A03
Right Realism would argue that there is a growing problem with WC crime and that Marxists fail to see the real effects of it
