Marxism on crime

Delinquency

Criminal or antisocial acts committed by young people, usually under the age of 18

Collective consciousness

Durkheim- society has a set of shared values

Who first wrote about the Marxist theory of crime

Bonger

What is the Marxist theory of crime fundamentally based on

The exploitation of one group by another through values such as hegemony, law enforcement, individual motivation etc

Hegemony

Control of lower classes by the upper class, usually through ideology

Criminogenic

A descriptor for capitalism, outlining that capitalism creates crime due to its values

Utilitarian crime + why is happens

A crime that has a motive of profit, happens as capitalism is based on profit so it becomes a general goal of all

Non-utilitarian crime + why it happens

A crime that is not associated with financial gain, happens due to the frustration of exploitation, used as a release

Why may the Marxist explanation of crime be invalid

Assumes we are all a product of the capitalist society and argues we are passive, doesn’t explain crime in communist societies e.g ussr, criminals are often painted to be the victim of capitalism rather than an offender

Explain ideological state apparatus and hegemony in relation to crime

Ruling class impose their ideology through societal institutions such as education to create the illusion that ones individual thoughts/ opinion is their own

Selective law enforcement

Laws being in place yet only applying to some people such as cooperate vs individual financial crimes

What are some criticisms of the Marxist view on selective law

Through democracy w/c also have a say in laws and lawmakers so isn’t just ruling class, some laws are in place to protect the working class, assumption that all laws are utilitarian and focus on capitalist motives, victims are often ignored

Corporate crime

Company/ business crimes

White collar crime

upper/ upper middle class committing crime

Why does the ruling class often get away with crime

Their crimes are often hard and expensive to prosecute so will get away with it

What is traditional Marxist theory on crime also called

Critical criminology

Neo-marxism

New Marxist ideology, involves elements of interactionism

What is neo-Marxist theory on crime also called

New criminology

What three areas do Marxists and neo-Marxists agree on

Society is based on exploitation, selective law making, getting rid of capitalism would significantly reduce or even iradicate crime

What do neo-Marxists say about marxism

Marxism is too economically deterministic, it assumes we all make decisions based on financial gain

Who were the main neo-marxists

Taylor, Walton, Young

What is the main aim of neo-Marxism on crime

Development of a more social theory and explain action of crime, has to consider the individual along with society

Who argues that the ruling class will always attempt to enforce hegemony

Gramsci

Who argues criminals are passive

Marxists

Who argues criminals are active

Neo-marxists

Voluntaristic

Neo-Marxists argue criminals have free will rather than being passive, criminals choose to offend

What did Taylor Walton and Young develop following criminals being “voluntaristic”

6 dimensions outlining a basis of thought when a crime is committed

What are the 6 dimensions neo-marxists developed

Wider societal origins of deviance, immediate origins of deviance, meaning of the act to the individual, immediate societal reaction, wider societal reaction, outcomes of the reaction on the deviant

Wider societal origins of deviance and an example

The wider context of crime like wealth and power inequalities, e.g a downturn in the economy

Immediate origins of deviance and an example

The specific situation the criminal was in leading to the act e.g being in a society with the need for scapegoats

Meaning of the act to the individual and an example

If its a good cause or a need such as money due to having no job e.g having to steal because you need food

Immediate societal reaction and an example

The closest people to the offender reacting e.g family, neighbours

Wider societal reaction and an example

The rest of society reacting to the act e.g media outrage, deviancy amplification

Outcomes of societal reaction on deviant and an example

Offenders being labelled, possibly leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy e.g oozed dawn on so turn into a drug addict

Outline a specific ao2 example for neo-Marxist 6 spheres on crime

‘Policing the crisis’ study on black muggers: riots happening in Ireland and government needed something to distract and turn the media, ethnic minority groups were getting bigger post war, mugging was taking place and those prosecuted were often black, lead to over policing on black areas and ethnic groups disliked the police and lost trust, lead to more mugging as a release of frustration

What is the myth of black criminality

Gilroy- the stereotype that black people are to commit more crime which is incorrect, due to institutional racism and military policing

Military policing

Usage of covert tactics as a form of policing such as stop and search and surveillance

Strengths of neo-marxism

Considers police, media, individual, economic structure

Weaknesses of neo-marxism

Over emphasis on class inequalities, little to say on deviance only on crime, don’t explain wc on wc crime, more of a model than an approach, ignores the victims of crime and the laws that protect the working class

Outline the Marxist subcultural theory

The working class youths create a subculture as they reject capitalism through the clothes they wear and the language they use

What did Cohen say about sociologists on crime

Sociologists are bias of their analysis and want to prove that capitalism is criminogenic therefore fix their evidence to match this.