traditional marxism, neomarxism and crime Flashcards
1
Q
what is traditional marxism?
A
- structural (macro) theory
- believe the law reflects the interest of the ruling class
- laws that protect workers can be seen as concessions to make them accept the system - smoke screen
2
Q
what is criminogenic capitalism?
A
- capitalism is a system that causes criminal behaviour
- capitalism is based on the exploitation of the WC
- poverty leads to crime
- crime is the only way to obtain goods advertised in the media
- WC have no control over their lives so feel frustrated and become aggressive
3
Q
law creation and the dominant hegemony
A
- the ruling class impose their values on society
- do this through religion, education, mass media etc - ideological domination (hegemony)
- society accepts this as beneficial to all - really only benefit the ruling class
- laws protect private property
4
Q
the media and discrimination of WC crime
A
- mass media focuses on WC crime
- demonising WC
- police and CJS often discriminate against WC males
- more likely to be ‘stopped and searched’ than any other group
5
Q
tax avoidance numbers
A
- costs UK economy £69.9billion a year
- benefits overpaid due to fraud if £1.2billion
- tax credit fraud is £380million
6
Q
the state and law making - CHAMBLISS
A
- the laws reflect the bourgeoise and their businesses
- looks at how britian introduced laws into east african colonies
- tax system was introduced so the locals had to work on the plantations to pay their taxes
7
Q
selective law enforcement - CARLSON
A
- all social classes commit crime
- crimes of the powerful are less likely to end in a prosecution
- CARLSON: in a sample of 200 firms, all had breached health and safety regulations - only 1-5% were prosecuted
8
Q
ideological functions of crime and law for capitalism
A
- some laws benefit the WC which gives capitalism a more humane face
- selective enforcement of the law encourages the WC to blame each other for societies problems rather than capitalism
- hides the real criminals in society, such as large corporations
9
Q
criticisms of traditional marxism
A
- ignores the victims of crime
- ignores crime relating to gender or ethnicity
- if capitalism creates crime, why does it exist in communist countries?
- elderly are amongst the poorest in britian but have low levels of offending
- not all capitalist societies have high crime rates e.x. japan, switzerland
10
Q
how does critical criminology (neo marxism) agree with traditional marxists?
A
- capitalist societies are based on exploitation and the class system
- the state makes laws that are in the interest of the capitalist class
- capitalism should be replaced with a classless society as this would get rid of crime
11
Q
critical criminology (neo marxism) differs from traditional marxism in these ways:
A
- instead of being driven to crime by their status, they believe that criminals choose crime
- reject all theories that behaviour is driven by external forces, as they believe crime is not caused by biology, environment, poverty or anomie
- believe crime is deliberate, conscious and has political motives e.g. gay liberation, just stop oil
12
Q
TAYLOR ET ALL - six causes of crime
A
- the wider origins of the deviant act (unequal distribution of wealth)
- the immediate origins of the deviant act (the context of the crime)
- the act itself (what was it for?)
- the immediate origins of social reaction (such as family, police etc)
- the wider origins of social reaction (looking at why people might get a harsher punishment than others)
- the effects of labelling (how it leads to deviance amplification)
13
Q
evaluation (criticisms) of critical criminonoloy)
A
- gender blind
- romantisises WC as robin hoods - preying on the poor
- don’t take crime seriously, ignore the effects on WC victims
- most victims are WC and ethnic minorities, committing crime against their own race / class
- ignores domesic abuse / violence
- ignores white collar crime - rich stealing from the rich
