Traditional Marxism Flashcards
What does Snider argue and give an example of her theory ?
Argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profitability.
An example is that there are few laws that seriously challenge the unequal distribution of wealth.
What do Marxists mean by ideological functions of crime and law?
The law, crime and criminals also perform an ideological function for capitalism. Laws are occasionally passed that appear to be for the benefit of the working class rather than capitalism, such as workplace health and safety laws.
What does Pearce argue about ideological functions of crime and law?
Argues that such laws (that appear to benefit the working class) often benefit the ruling class too - for example, by keeping workers fit for work. By giving capitalism a ‘caring’ face, such laws also create false consciousness among the workers.
What do Marxist argue about selective enforcement?
Marxists argue that although all classes commit crime, when it comes to the application of the law by the criminal justice system, there is selective enforcement. While powerless groups such as the working class and ethnic minorities are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.
Give two evaluation points of traditional Marxism?
- traditional Marxism offers a useful explanation of the relationship between crime and capitalist society. It shows the link between law making and enforcement and the interest of the capitalist class. By doing so, it puts into a wider structural context the insights of the labelling theory regarding the selective enforcement of the law.
- the traditional Marx view had also influenced recent approaches to the study of crime of the powerful. E.g slapper and tombs theory
What does Gordon argue?
Crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes - even though the official stats make it appear to be a largely working class phenomenon
