Crime - Marxist theories of crime Flashcards
what do traditional marxists believe about crime
crime is inevitable in capitalist societies as capitalism is criminogenic, causing crime by its very nature
trad - how is capitalism criminogenic
‘dog eat dog’ society that encourages self interests and greed over collective wellbeing as its a ‘win at all costs mentality’. breaking the law can be seen as a justified (or even logical) means to a profitable end, where even non-utilitarian crimes can be rationalised as the result of frustrations caused by capitalist pressures.
trad - what are overall evaluations for traditional marxism
too deterministic - assumes everyone w/c turns to crime
reduces it down to just capitalism, ignores other facts e.g ethnicity
trad - whats snider’s selective enforcement
within criminal justice system, theres a selected bias when applying the law - corporate crimes dealt with more leniantly whereas small financial crimes comitted by poor are met with harsh prosecutions. police also more likely to target w/c areas and criminalise them more than the r/c
trad - what example can be applied to snider’s selective enforcement
jimmy carr tax avoidance scheme, his only punishment was a fine which wouldve been easily paid off by someone rich
trad - what does snider say about the state passing laws
capitalist state relunctant to pass laws that threaten the profibility of their businesses e.g laws against pollution or worker health and safeties
trad - what does chambliss say about selective law making
the r/c have the power to prevent laws being put in place that threaten their interests e.g laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of capitalism
trad - what is chambliss’ property laws example
tresspassing laws, right to own private properties. argues that these were firmly set up by the state to ensure wealth stays in the family to inherit
trad - whats an evaluation of selective enforcement
professionalism - law makers and criminal justice system are professional organisations and surely would comply with regulations
trad - what does pearce say about the ideological functions of law
state puts in place laws that benefit the w/c e.g health and safety laws to present capitalism as having a ‘caring face’, maintaining false class consciousness as the w/c then blame the criminal for their crimes rather than capitalism. prevents revolution
trad - whats an evaluation for ideological functions of law
law makers are elected officials and professionals, have knowledge of what laws theyre putting in place
ignores the victims of crimes & only focuses on class
how is neo-marxism different to marxism
capitalism is the root of all crime BUT believe crime is voluntarist and criminals aren’t just passive puppets of capitalism.
whats taylor walton and young’s full social theory of deviance
the structural origins of the deviant act (unequal distribtion of wealth in society).
the context the person decides to commit the act
the act itself & its meaning
the social reactions of those around the deviant act
wider origins of societal reactions - who has the power to define an act as deviant & label others, why some are treated more harshly
the effects of labelling on the deviant
neo-marxism - what’s stuart hall’s policing the crisis
1972-73 saw 60 events reported as muggings despite mugging not being a legal term in the UK. Home secretary reported a 129% increase of muggings in london the past four years
neo-marxism - stuart halls policing the crisis applied to full social theory of deviance
1 - economic recession
2- high unemployent particularly among black men
3- mugging, need money to survive
4- media outrage and police targeting
5- diversion and dividing the w/c
6- no revolution, police racism and loosing confidence in the CJS by ME groups
