Topic 3 - Critical Criminolgies

Traditional Marxism

Society is dividede into the capitalist ruling-class and the working class.

Marxism is a structuralist theory; society superstructure is controlled by its economic base.

Criminogenic capitalism:

• Crime is inevitable because capitalism is criminogenic - its very nature causes crime.
• Capitalsim is based on the exploitatuion of the working class therefore:
• Crime is the only way to survive.
• Crime is the only way in obtaining consumer goods promoted by capitalism.
• Alineation may cause frustration and anger, leading to non-utilitarian crimes.

[Evaluation: MARXISM is too deterministic of working class - not all poor people commit crime.]

Marxists see law making and enforcement as a way of serving the intrests of the capitalsit class.

Chambliss (1975) - laws to protect private property are at the basis of any capitalist economy.

(Link to labelling theory as it…