neo- marxism : critical criminology

Describe what a Neo-marxist is

Neo-Marxists are sociologists who have been influenced by many of the ideas put forward by Marxism, but they combine these with ideas from other approaches such as labelling theory.

Outline the difference between a traditional Marxists and Neo-Marxists

• Traditional Marxists focus on how capitalism and class inequality cause crime.

• Neo-Marxists agree but also look at how individuals experience crime, how laws are applied, and how society reacts, combining macro (big picture) and micro (individual) perspectives.

The most important neo-Marxist contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance has been The N___ C_____, by T____, W___ and Young (1973).

Taylor et al agree with Marxists that:

• • Capitalist society is based on e____ and c____ c____ and characterised by extreme i____ of w____ and p___. Understanding this is the key to understanding ____.

• The state makes and enforces laws in the interests of who? and criminalises members of the w____ c____

• Capitalism should be replaced by a c____ society. This would greatly reduce what?

The most important neo-Marxist contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance has been The New Criminology, by Taylor, Walton and Young (1973).

Taylor et al agree with Marxists that:

• • Capitalist society is based on exploitation and class conflict and characterised by extreme inequalities of wealth and power. Understanding this is the key to understanding crime.

• The state makes and enforces laws in the interests of the capitalist class and criminalises members of the working class

• Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society. This would greatly reduce the extent of crime or even rid society of crime entirely.

• However, the views of Taylor et al also differ significantly from those of Marxists.

• Traditional Marxists focus on the p____ as a c____ g____, explaining crime as a result of c_____ and c____ e____.

• In contrast, critical criminologists (Neo-Marxists) emphasise l____, arguing that crime is shaped by s____ r_____, where p_____ a____ such as the police, courts, and media label certain i_____ as c_____

• Much of their book is a critique of existing theories of crime and deviance, including both Marxist and non-Marxist approaches, and they describe their approach as critical criminology. - what is critical criminology?

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• However, the views of Taylor et al also differ significantly from those of Marxists.

• Traditional Marxists focus on the proletariat as a collective group, explaining crime as a result of capitalism and class exploitation.

• In contrast, critical criminologists (Neo-Marxists) emphasise labelling, arguing that crime is shaped by social reactions, where powerful agencies such as the police, courts, and media label certain individuals as criminal

• Much of their book is a critique of existing theories of crime and deviance, including both Marxist and non-Marxist approaches, and they describe their approach as critical criminology.

  • Critical criminology is an approach to studying crime that goes beyond simply describing crime or blaming individuals; it critiques the social, political, and economic systems that create crime and shape the way society responds to it.

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Taylor et al. - Anti-determinism

• Taylor et al argue that Marxism is deterministic.- what does this mean?

• They reject this explanation, along with theories that claim crime is caused by other e____ factors such as a_____, s___ or l____, or by b____ and p____ factors.

• Instead, Taylor et al take a more voluntaristic view (what is voluntarism? ).

• They see crime as m____ an_____ and a c____ c____ by the a____

• In particular, they argue that crime often has a p____ m___, for example to r____ w____ from the r____ to the p____.

• Criminals are not p____ p____ whose behaviour is shaped by c____: they are deliberately striving to do what? + example

Taylor et al. - Anti-determinism

• Taylor et al argue that Marxism is deterministic.- For example, it sees workers as driven to commit crime out of economic necessity.

• They reject this explanation, along with theories that claim crime is caused by other external factors such as anomie, subcultures or labelling, or by biological and psychological factors.

• Instead, Taylor et al take a more voluntaristic view (voluntarism is the idea that we have free will - the opposite of determinism).

• They see crime as meaningful action and a conscious choice by the actor.

• In particular, they argue that crime often has a political motive, for example to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor.

• Criminals are not passive puppets whose behaviour is shaped by capitalism: they are deliberately striving to change society. - like hood heroes, robin hood

Taylor et al. -A fully social theory of deviance

• Taylor et al aim to create a 'fully social theory of deviance' - a comprehensive understanding of crime and deviance that would help to do what?

This theory would have two main sources- what are they?

Taylor et al. -A fully social theory of deviance

• Taylor et al aim to create a 'fully social theory of deviance' - a comprehensive understanding of crime and deviance that would help to change society for the better.

This theory would have two main sources:

• Marxist ideas about the unequal distribution of wealth and who has the power to make and enforce the law.

• Ideas from interactionism and labelling theory about the meaning of the deviant act for the actor, societal reactions to it, and the effects of the deviant label on the individual.

In their view, a complete theory of deviance( not just focused on external factors) needs to unite six aspects- what are these six aspects?

For Taylor et al, these six aspects are i____ and need to be understood t_____ as part of a single u____ theory.

In their view, a complete theory of deviance( not just focused on external factors) needs to unite six aspects:

For Taylor et al, these six aspects are interrelated and need to be understood together as part of a single unified theory.:

1. The wider origins of the deviant act in the unequal distribution of wealth and power in capitalist society.

2. The immediate origins of the deviant act - the particular context in which the individual decides to commit the act.

3. The act itself and its meaning for the actor - e.g. was it a form of rebellion against capitalism?

4. The immediate origins of social reaction - the reactions of those around the deviant, such as police, family and community, to discovering the deviance.

5. The wider origins of social reaction in the structure of capitalist society - especially the issue of who has the power to define actions as deviant and to label others, and why some acts are treated more harshly than others

6. The effects of labelling on the deviant's future actions - e.g. why does labelling lead to deviance amplification in some cases but not in others?

✘- Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• how do Feminists criticise it ?

• Left realists make two related criticisms- what are these?

✘- Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• Feminists criticise it for being 'gender blind', focusing excessively on male criminality and at the expense of female criminality.

Left realists make two related criticisms.

• Critical criminology romanticises working-class criminals as 'Robin Hoods' who are fighting capitalism by redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. However, in reality these criminals mostly prey on the poor.

• Taylor et al do not take such crime seriously and they ignore its effects on working-class victims.

Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• ✘- B_____ (2005) argues that critical criminology is both too g____ to explain crime and too i_____ to be useful in tackling crime.

• ✓- However, H___ et al (1978) have applied Taylor et al's approach to explain the m____ p____ over so-called 'm_____' (a____ with i____ to rob) in the 1970s

Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• ✘- Burke (2005) argues that critical criminology is both too general to explain crime and too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime.

• ✓- However, Hall et al (1978) have applied Taylor et al's approach to explain the moral panic over so-called 'mugging' (assault with intent to rob) in the 1970s

Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• T____, W____ and Y____ have all changed their views since The New Criminology was published.

• However, W_____ (1998) and Y____ (1998) defend some aspects of the book's approach. They argue that:

• In calling for greater t____ of d____ in behaviour, the book combated the 'correctionalist bias' in most existing theories - what is this?

• The book laid some of the foundations for later radical approaches that seek to establish a more just society, such as what theories?

Evaluation of critical criminology - Taylor et al's approach is criticised on several grounds:

• Taylor, Walton and Young have all changed their views since The New Criminology was published.

• However, Walton (1998) and Young (1998) defend some aspects of the book's approach. They argue that:

• In calling for greater tolerance of diversity in behaviour, the book combated the 'correctionalist bias' in most existing theories - the assumption that sociology's role is simply to find ways of correcting deviant behaviour.

• The book laid some of the foundations for later radical approaches that seek to establish a more just society, such as left realist and feminist theories.