3. Marxist theories
- Created by: Amy Parkinson
- Created on: 13-04-15 16:12
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- Marxist theories
- Traditional Marxism
- Society's institutions function to support r/c ideas and values
- Criminogenic capitalism
- Crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic- by its very nature it causes crime
- Exploitation of the w/c may give rise to crime because it may be the only way to survive, obtain consumer goods or gain control of their lives as a result of alienation
- However, crime is not confined to the w/c
- The 'dog-eat-dog' system of capitalism encourages white collar and corporate crime
- GORDON
- Crime is a rational response to the capitalist system amongst all classes
- The state and law making
- CHAMBLISS
- Laws to protect private property are the cornerstones of the capitalist economy
- The r/c also have the power to prevent the introduction of laws that would threaten their interests
- SNIDER
- The capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profitability
- Although all classes commit crime, the law is not fairly enforced. There is therefore selective enforcement of the law
- The police and courts tend to ignore crimes of the powerful and penalise crimes of the w/c
- CHAMBLISS
- Ideological functions of crime and law
- Laws are occasionally passed that appear to be for the benefit of the w/c rather than for capitalism
- PEARCE
- Such laws often benefit the r/c as well. By giving capitalism a 'caring face' such laws also create a false consciousness among the w/c
- Because the state enforces the law selectively, crime appears to be a largely w/c phenomenon
- EVAL
- Traditional Marxism offers a useful explanation of the relationship between crime and capitalist society
- Ignores the relationship between crime and important non-class inequalities
- Too deterministic
- Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (Japan, Switzerland)
- The CJS does sometimes act against the interests of the r/c
- Left Relaists argue that Marxism focuses largely on crimes of the powerful and ignores intra-class crimes (where both criminal and victim are w/c)
- Neo-Marxism: critical criminology
- TAYLOR ET AL
- Taylor, Walton and Young are Neo-Marxists that agree with traditional marxists that:
- Capitalist society is based on a class conflict
- The state enforces laws that favour the r/c
- Capitalism should be replaced by a classless communist, scoiety
- However, their view, also called critical criminology, differs significantly from traditional Marxists views in some ways
- They argue that traditional Marxism is deterministic and they reject other theories that claim crime is a result of other external factors
- They take a more voluntaristic view (the idea that we have free will)
- Criminals are not passive puppets
- Individuals should not be labelled deviant just because they are different- instead they should be free to live their lives as they wish
- They aim to create a 'fully social theory of deviance'. This theory would incorporate both traditional Marxist ideas as well as Interactionist and labelling theories
- A complete theory needs to unite 6 aspects:
- 1. The wider origins of the deviant act
- 2. The immediate origins of the act
- 3. The act itself
- 4. The immediate origins of social reaction
- 5. The wider origins of social reaction
- 6. The effects of labelling
- Taylor, Walton and Young are Neo-Marxists that agree with traditional marxists that:
- EVAL
- Feminists: critical criminology is gender blind
- Left Realists: this theory romantices w/c criminals as 'Robin Hoods' when really these criminals prey on the poor
- Left Realists: They do not take some crimes seriously and they ignore their effects on w/c victims
- HOPKINS-BURKE: its too general to explain crime and too idealistic to tackle crime
- TAYLOR ET AL
- Traditional Marxism
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