Traditional Marxism

Question 1

Capitalism is criminogenic

Answer 1

Crime Is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic.

Eg Poverty = crime only way working-class can survive/ Crime only way to obtain consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising resulting in theft/ Alienation and lack of control over t lives lead to frustration/aggression resulting in non-utilitarian crimes such as violence
Need to win at all costs or go out of business encourages capitalist to commit white collar and corporate crime e.g. tax invasion.

Question 2

Snider - Corporation crime

Answer 2

Found that street crime in USA cost $4 billion to fix whereas corporation crime cost $80 billion to fix

Little prosecution of corporation crime as it’s costly and little chance of success

State want to attract and protect investment so failed to regulate laws such as health and safety in the workplace

Question 3

Gordon - law enforcement

Answer 3

Crime is rational response to Capitalist system hence found in all social classes

1) Economic infrastructure influences social relationships/values
2) Economic self-interest above collective well-being
3) Competition encourages individual achievement expense of others e.g. aggression

Question 4

How does law-enforcement support capitalism?

Answer 4

Imprisoning w/c / Blaming them drawing attention away from system /

Question 5

Chambliss - law enforcement serves interest of capitalist class/ selective enforcement

Answer 5

members of the ruling class were part of a crime syndicate who used their wealth and influence to bribe officials and avoid punishment.

laws were applied selectively to control the working class while protecting the rich. Working-class/ethnic minorities criminalised but courts tend to ignore crimes of powerful = selective enforcement

Question 6

Pearce - Functions of crime and law

Answer 6

laws that appeared to help workers really helped the bourgeoisie. His focus was on health and safety laws which provided the ruling class with a healthy workforce so they carry on and they make profit.

Question 7

Neo Marxist - Agree that

Answer 7

S society based on exploitation/class conflict characterised by inequalities of wealth and power.

State in forces laws in interest of capitalist class and criminalises working class.

Capitalism should be replaced by classless society to reduce crime and rid Society of crime

Question 8

Taylor et al - Traditional Marxism is deterministic / anti determinism

Answer 8

Reject claim that crime is caused by external factors such as sub cultures Or economic factors.

Taylor takes More voluntaristic view – see crime as meaningful action and conscious choice by actor. Crime often has political motive e.g. redistribution of wealth. Criminal not passive puppets behaviour is shaped by nature of capitalism; they deliberately strive to change society.

Agree of a classless society but emphasise importance of individual liberty and diversity. Also believe people should not be labelled deviant because they are different

Question 9

Social theory of deviance – six aspects

Answer 9

1) Wider origin of the act = Look at where the deviant act took place on social class system
2) The actual act – what does the act mean to the individual concerned
3) Immediate origin of the social reaction – need to look at immediate response of other people e.g. family/police
4) Wider origins of deviant reaction – immediate reaction within wider social system. Who has power to define it as deviant
5) Outcome of social reaction – examine Effects of labelling taking place in society
6) Nature of the process – 6Aspects of process need to be connected together for there to be a fully social theory