marxism, class and crime

Fundamentals of Marxism

Marxists see capitalist society as divided into two classes - what are these?

Fundamentals of Marxism

Marxists see capitalist society as divided into two classes:

1. the ruling capitalist class (bourgeoisie) who own the means of production,

2. the working class proletariat), whose alienated labour the bourgeoisie exploit to produce profit.

Fundamentals of Marxism

• Marxism is a structural theory- what does this mean?

Fundamentals of Marxism

• Marxism is a structural theory.

• it sees society as a structure in which the economic base (the capitalist economy) determines the shape of the superstructure, which is made up of all the other social institutions, including the state, the law and the criminal justice system.

• Their function is to serve ruling-class interests and maintain the capitalist economy.

Fundamentals of Marxism

• Marxists agree with labelling theorists that the law is e____ d______ against the working class and that therefore the o____ c____ s____ cannot be taken at face value.

• However, they criticise labelling theory how?

• Marxist explanations of crime and deviance flow from their view of the nature of c___ society.

Fundamentals of Marxism

• Marxists agree with labelling theorists that the law is enforced disproportionately against the working class and that therefore the official crime statistics cannot be taken at face value.

• However, they criticise labelling theory for failing to examine the wider structure of capitalism within which law making, law enforcement and offending take place

• Marxist explanations of crime and deviance flow from their view of the nature of capitalist society.

For Marxists, the structure of capitalist society explains crime. Their view of crime has three main elements- what are these elements?

For Marxists, the structure of capitalist society explains crime. Their view of crime has three main elements:

1. Criminogenic capitalism

2. The state and law making

3. Ideological functions of crime and law

criminogenic capitalism

• For Marxists, crime is i_____ in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic - what does crimogenic mean?

criminogenic capitalism

• For Marxists, crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic -

• Criminogenic means a system or situation increases the chances of crime happening

criminogenic capitalism

• Capitalism is based on the e____ of the w____ c____ - using them as a means to an e____ (profit), whatever the h____ cost of doing so.

• It is therefore particularly d____ to the w____ c____ and according to Marxists this may give rise to crime:

  • Poverty may mean that crime is what?

  • Crime may be the only way they can obtain the c______ g____ encouraged by c____ a____, resulting in u_____ crimes such as t____^.

  • A_____ and lack of c____ over their lives may lead to f____ and a_____, resulting in n__-u_____ crimes such as v______ and v____.

criminogenic capitalism

• Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the working class - using them as a means to an end (profit), whatever the human cost of doing so.

• It is therefore particularly damaging to the working class and according to Marxists this may give rise to crime:

  • Poverty may mean that crime is the only way the working class can survive.

  • Crime may be the only way they can obtain the consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising, resulting in utilitarian crimes such as theft.

  • Alienation and lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration and aggression, resulting in non-utilitarian crimes such as violence and vandalism.

criminogenic capitalism - x-criticism/other argument

• However, crime is not confined to what?

• Capitalism is a 'd____ eat d___' system of r____ c___ among capitalists, while the p____ motive encourages a mentality of what?

• The need to for what? may relate to b____ and e____ along with the desire for s___-e____, encourages capitalists to commit w____ c___ and c____ crimes such as t___ e____ and b____ of health and safety laws.

• Thus, as G____ (1976) argues, crime is a r____ r____ to the c____ system and hence it is found in all s___ c___ - even though the official statistics make it appear how?

criminogenic capitalism - x-criticism/other argument

• However, crime is not confined to the working class.

• Capitalism is a 'dog eat dog' system of ruthless competition among capitalists, while the profit motive encourages a mentality of greed and self-interest.

• The need to win at all costs may relate to business and entrepreneurs along with the desire for self-enrichment, encourages capitalists to commit white collar and corporate crimes such as tax evasion and breaches of health and safety laws. m

• Thus, as Gordon (1976) argues, crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes - even though the official statistics make it appear to be a largely working-class phenomenon.

The state and law making

• Unlike functionalists, who see the law as what?, Marxists see law making and law enforcement as what?

• For example, C____ (1975) argues what laws are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy?

The state and law making

• Unlike functionalists, who see the law as reflecting the value consensus and representing the interests of society as a whole, Marxists see law making and law enforcement as only serving the interests of the capitalist class.

• For example, Chambliss (1975) argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy

The state and law making- example/case study

• Chambliss illustrates elitist laws through the introduction of E____ l____ in B____ E___ A_____ c_____ in the late n____ and early t____ centuries, when Britain’s economic interests centred on t____, c___, and other p____ a___ that required a large supply of c____ l____

At this time, local African societies largely operated within a subsistence- what does this mean? and barter-based economy_ what does this mean? rather than a m____ economy with c____

• To force the reluctant population into wage labour, what did the British do?

• As cash could only be obtained by working on how? the law a____ created a n____ for m____ and c____ A____ into l____, clearly serving the economic interests of who?

The state and law making- example/case study

• Chambliss illustrates elitist laws through the introduction of English law in Britain’s East African colonies in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when Britain’s economic interests centred on tea, coffee, and other plantation agriculture that required a large supply of cheap labour

At this time, local African societies largely operated within a subsistence and barter-based economy rather than a money economy with cash

• Subsistence economy: people grow food, raise animals, or make goods mainly for their own use, not to sell.

• Barter-based economy: instead of using cash, people trade goods or services directly.

• To force the reluctant population into wage labour, the British imposed taxes payable only in cash, with non-payment treated as a criminal offence

• As cash could only be obtained by working on European-owned plantations, the law artificially created a need for money and coerced Africans into labour, clearly serving the economic interests of capitalist plantation owners

The state and law making

• The ruling class also have the power to do what

• Thus, for example, there are few laws that s___ challenge the unequal distribution of wealth

• Similarly, S_____ (1993) argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to do what?

The state and law making

• The ruling class also have the power to prevent the introduction of laws that would threaten their interests.

• Thus, for example, there are few laws that seriously challenge the unequal distribution of wealth

• Similarly, Snider (1993) argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profitability.

The state and law making → Selective enforcement

• Marxists agree with labelling theorists that although a____ c____ commit crime, when it comes to the application of the law by the criminal justice system, there is s____ e____.

• While p____ groups such as the working class and minority ethnic groups are c____, the police and courts tend to ignore what?

The state and law making → Selective enforcement

• Marxists agree with labelling theorists that although all classes commit crime, when it comes to the application of the law by the criminal justice system, there is selective enforcement.

• While powerless groups such as the working class and minority ethnic groups are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.

Ideological functions of crime and law

• The law, crime and criminals also perform an i____ function for capitalism. Laws are occasionally passed that appear to be for the b____ of the working class rather than capitalism, such as w____ h____ and s____ l____.

• However, P____ (1976) argues that such laws often benefit the ruling class too - how?

• By presenting capitalism as f____, p_____ and r_____ to workers’ needs,, such laws also create false consciousness among the workers.

• The workers may come to believe that the law operates in their i____.

• As a result, workers are less likely to recognise their e____ or c____ the underlying i____ of c____.

Ideological functions of crime and law

• The law, crime and criminals also perform an ideological function for capitalism. Laws are occasionally passed that appear to be for the benefit of the working class rather than capitalism, such as workplace health and safety laws.

• However, Pearce (1976) argues that such laws often benefit the ruling class too - for example, by keeping workers fit for work.

• By presenting capitalism as fair, protective and responsive to workers’ needs,, such laws also create false consciousness among the workers.

• The workers may come to believe that the law operates in their interests.

• As a result, workers are less likely to recognise their exploitation or challenge the underlying inequalities of capitalism.

Ideological functions of crime and law

• Some laws are not r____ enforced.

• For example, despite a new law against c____ h___ being passed in 20___, in its first e____ years there was only o____ s____ p____ of a UK company - despite what? (J____, 2014).

• Furthermore, because the state enforces the law s____, crime appears to be what?

• This divides the working class how?

Ideological functions of crime and law

• Some laws are not rigorously enforced.

• For example, despite a new law against corporate homicide being passed in 2007, in its first eight years there was only one successful prosecution of a UK company - despite the large numbers of deaths at work estimated to be caused by employers' negligence (Jenabi, 2014).

• Furthermore, because the state enforces the law selectively, crime appears to be largely a working-class phenomenon.

• This divides the working class by encouraging workers to blame the criminals in their midst for their problems, rather than capitalism.

The media and some criminologists also contribute by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals, thereby concealing what?

The media and some criminologists also contribute by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals, thereby concealing the fact that it is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminals.

Evaluation of Marxism- strengths

✓- Marxism offers a useful explanation of the relationship between what?

• It shows the link between l____ m____ and e____ and the interests of the capitalist class.

• By doing so, it puts into a wider s____ context the insights of labelling theory regarding the selective enforcement of the law.

Evaluation of Marxism- strengths

✓- Marxism offers a useful explanation of the relationship between crime and capitalist society

• It shows the link between law making and enforcement and the interests of the capitalist class.

• By doing so, it puts into a wider structural context the insights of labelling theory regarding the selective enforcement of the law.

Evaluation of Marxism- limitations

✘- it has been argued that Marxism places too much emphasis on what? and largely what?

• For example, f_____ such as H____ argue that Marxism fails to explain g____ differences in crime

✘- Marxism is o____ d_____ and o_^_^-p_____ the level of working-class crime.

• Not all individuals experiencing poverty engage in c____ b____, despite the e______ p____ they face.

• Left realists such as L____ and Y____ argue that Marxism n____ i_____ c____ and cultural factors, which play an important role in explaining what?

✘- Not all c____ societies experience h___ crime rates.

For instance, countries such what? have significantly lower homicide rates than the United States.

✘- Finally, Left realists such as Young criticise Marxism for ignoring intra-class crime, - what is this?

Evaluation of Marxism- limitations

✘- it has been argued that Marxism places too much emphasis on social class and largely ignores non-class inequalities such as ethnicity and gender.

• For example, feminists such as Heidensohn argue that Marxism fails to explain gender differences in crime

✘- Marxism is overly deterministic and over-predicts the level of working-class crime.

• Not all individuals experiencing poverty engage in criminal behaviour, despite the economic pressures they face.

• Left realists such as Lea and Young argue that Marxism neglects individual choice and cultural factors, which play an important role in explaining why some working-class individuals commit crime while others do not.

✘- Not all capitalist societies experience high crime rates.

For instance, countries such as Japan and Switzerland have significantly lower homicide rates than the United States.

✘- Finally, Left realists such as Young criticise Marxism for ignoring intra-class crime, where both the offender and the victim are working-class.