Marxism And Crime

Question 1

What do Marxists see the function of society is

Answer 1

Society’s institutions as serving ruling class interests

Question 2

Crime is linked to relationships of power and control - three main elements:

Answer 2

Criminogenic capitalism
The state and law making
Ideological functions of crime and law

Question 3

Conflict theory

Answer 3

Society based on class conflict

Question 4

Structural theory

Answer 4

Sees institutions as largely determining how we behave

Question 5

Causes of crime

Answer 5

Generated by the structure of capitalism society - inevitable

Question 6

Gordon

Answer 6

Capitalism is criminogenic

- crime is a rational response to the capitalist system

Question 7

Capitalism is criminogenic

Answer 7

Gordon

Question 8

Poverty ( explanation of criminogenic)

Answer 8

Capitalism fails people who are relatively deprived

- have to resort to crime and ilegitimate ways to succeed

Question 9

Crimes of the powerful

Answer 9

White collar: non violent, committed by professionals and managers
- state crime

Question 10

Corporate crime

Answer 10

Offences committed by corporations in the pursuit of profit

Question 11

Ford Pinto

Answer 11

1970s

• car that gave you a warm feelings
• tendency to burst into flames in collisions
• production continued for 8 years, responsible for 500-900 deaths

Question 12

Boohoo

Answer 12

Workers in Leicester paid £3.59

• minimum wage much higher
• operating during lockdown with no additional hygiene or social distancing measures put in place

Question 13

The state and law making

Answer 13

Laws made by the powerful for the powerful - serve ruling class interests

Question 14

Sneider

Answer 14

Capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws regulating activities of business

Question 15

Capitalist state reluctant to pass laws which threaten their profitability

Answer 15

Sneider

Question 16

Selective law enforcement

Answer 16

Law enforced selectively and systematic bias favours those on top

Question 17

Reiman

Answer 17

The more likely a crime is committed by the ruling class, the less likely it is to be treated as a criminal offence

Question 18

Sneider

Answer 18

White collar crime and corporate crime so far more physical and economic harm than street crime by ‘typical’ criminals

Question 19

When powerful people fail to pay business taxes and break trading laws

Answer 19

They are rarely prosecuted

Question 20

Pearce

Answer 20

Laws benefit ruling class

• keep workers fit and healthy
• gives capitalism a ‘caring’ face
• creates false class consciousness

Question 21

Ideological functions of law

Answer 21

Laws passed that appear to benefit workers

Question 22

Carson

Answer 22

200 firms broken health and safety laws only 1.5% were prosecuted

Question 23

200 firms broke health and safety laws

Answer 23

Only 1.5% prosecuted

Question 24

Criticisms of Marxism

Answer 24

Ignores relationship between crime and other non- class inequalities such as ethnicity and gender

• deterministic
• not all capitalist societies have high crime rates

Question 25

Health and safety laws

Answer 25

Make it seem like boss is helping you, just ensuring that you can come into work and fulfill your role