Week 4 - Zemiology, Marxism And Radical Criminology Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is Zemiology?
The study of social harm that looks at the harm of nation states and corporations. .
How does Zemiology say harm can be caused?
It proposes that the CJS can cause harm to offenders in each stage of the CJS and that the labels given to offenders can also cause harm
What does Zemiology say crimes are based on?
Race and social class
Who does Zemiology say benefits from the causing of social harm?
People who are in places of wealth or people who benefit from making biased laws, such as white men in the upper class
What are the central themes of critical theory?
There is emphasis on inequality and power, it sees crime as a political concept and the the CJS serves the interests of the powerful
What does critical theory say is the solution to crime?
A more equitable society
What are some variations of critical theory?
Marxist and Radical Theory, Left Realist Theories and Feminist Theories
How does traditional Marxism describe crime and deviance?
It says that crime is a reflection of capitalist society and that crime is inevitable in capitalism
How does Marxism differ from Durkheims theories?
Durkheim proposes a similar thing but that crime stems from people not fitting into the norms of society as opposed to it stemming from the capitalist society itself that we live in
How did Marx term the means of production and the workers?
The bourgeoisie and the proletariat
What idea is at the centre of Marx’s arguments?
The idea that social classes stand in an antagonistic relationship between one another
What does criminogenic mean?
Criminogenic means that crime is generated by the structure of capitalist society, therefore meaning that crime is inevitable in societies were some are richer than others
How does Marx propose the lower classes are pushed to commit crime?
Marx argues that the lower classes are not immune to the the impact of being exploited, and that the build up of unhappiness with their places in the lower classes is where crimes such as violence and assault stem from as they take it out on each other rather than their employer, who is the one at fault.
Who says that crime happens in all social classes?
Gordon (1976), as he argues that crime is generated by the structure of capitalist society and is a rational response. Capitalism encourages those in upper classes to commit white collar crime and corporate crimes
What analogy did Engels (1844) use to demonstrate why the working classes commit crime?
“If the demoralisation of the worker passes beyond a certain point, then it is just as natural that he will turn to crime as it is inevitable as water turning into steam at boiling point” - it is natural for the worker to turn to crime because they have been so demoralised by society that they have no other option
How does Marxism argue the law is selective?
It proposes that the rich get richer and the poor go to prison, as it is the elite in power that determines what laws get made, therefore meaning they are able to protect themselves but sends the working classes to prison
How does Box (1993) describe the stereotypical criminal?
Box (1993) argues that the stereotypical criminal through the lens of the media and the aid of statistics is the young black working-class male.
How does Gordon (1976) argue the law being selective aids the ruling class?
Gordon (1976) argues that the selective enforcement of the law enforces ruling class power and reinforces ruling class ideologies as it gives the impression that criminals are located mainly in the working class, and means that the working class become divided as they blame the criminals in their midst instead of blaming the criminals that remain at a higher level of social class
How do the functionalists describe law creation?
Functionalists argue that the law reflects the will of the people
How do Marxists describe law creation?
Marxists argue that the law is a reflection of the will of the powerful, and that it is the powerful that ‘sets the agenda’
Who researched “A study of crime in Seattle”?
William Chambliss (1978)
What were the findings of “A study of crime in Seattle”?
Chambliss identified selective law enforcement, with 70% of arrests being public drunkenness while white collar crime involving politicians, police and big businesses being ignored
What are some strengths of William Chambliss’s research?
It is backed up by good empirical evidence from official statistics
What are some weaknesses of William Chambliss’s research?
The police might argue that their focus on working class communities reflected the fact that that was where most crime was taking place.
