marxist theories of crime

what are marxist theories?

• marxism is a structural theory that looks at the conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat over access to resources.

• marxism focuses on the ways in which the ruling class look to control the majority of the population.

• the main argument of marxism is that society is unequal, both in access to resources and access to power.

how does this effect crime?

• the ruling class look to maintain their position of superiority over the rest of the population and they use the criminal justice system as one way of achieving thus.

• the ruling class create the law and so they can criminalise the activities of the lower classes and enforce punishments upon them.

• they also control resources, limiting the legitimate access that people have to goods and services through the wages they pay workers.

capitalism as a cause of crime

• capitalism is the dominant economic system and is based upon the private ownership of property and goods.

• people must pay for goods and services and in order to afford these goods and services they must sell their labour for wages.

• companies look to keep wages as low as possible so they can maximise profits whilst also charging as much as they can for their goods.

• workers are unable to afford goods and services that society suggests they must have, and so turn to crime.

law creation and enforcement

• marxists suggest that laws are created in the interests of the ruling class to protect their property.

• laws against trespass, theft and copyright are examples of laws that protect the property of the wealthy.

• law enforcement also focuses on working-class areas and ignores corporate and white collar crimes.

ideological basis of crime

• as laws are created by the ruling class they portray a set of ideas and beliefs about what is right and wrong in society.

• this helps to control the population as it creates scapegoats out of less powerful groups in society - e.g. benefit fraud is vilified in society yet is a fraction of cost of tax evasion.

• use of police in society to enforce laws is seen asa protective factor for population, but is in fact a source of social control.

evaluation of marxist theories of crime

• strengths: focuses on how inequality in society is a cause of crime and looks at structure of society and how it impacts individual behaviour.

• explains reasons why white collar and corporate crime is not prosecuted and why working class people appear to be more criminal.

• limitations: assumes that people are unaware of their explanation and that crime is a result of their frustrations.

• criticised for failing to explain violent and sexual crimes that have no financial motives.