MARXIST VIEW OF CRIME & DEVIANCE BOOKLET 7

STARTER - who am I?

"Marxism is named after me. I co-wrote the communist manifesto with my friend Friedrich Engles"

Karl Marx

STARTER - who am I?

"I wrote the learning to labor study where I focused on the lads"

Paul Willis

STARTER "I came up with the idea of false class consciousness where the proletariat dont know they are being exploited by the bourgeoise"

Louis Althusser + ISA, RSA

STARTER - who am I?

"I offer a different idea to the warm bath theory. I say that men want to come home from work and be the boss of the house where they can let out their stress and frustration on the family"

Eli Zaretsky

What do Marxists believe is the evil of all?

Capitalism

What does the idea of "laws reflecting bourgoise ideology" mean?

Their behavior (the bourgeoise) is not classed as a crime

The legal system (lawyers, judges, courts and the police), all serve the interests of the bourgoise - what does this mean?

The bourgoise aims crimes/laws at the proletariat - the laws protect them

So what do Marxists see the root cause of crime and deviance as?

Capitalism

Why does the proletariat result to crime?

They get paid so little, they are forced to result to crime

What are the 5 institutions?

Education, family, government, religion, media

In what ways do institutions control us and prevent a revolution? (Choose 2 institutions)

1. Religion - crime/device is seen as a sin from God, would not be rewarded in the afterlife - would go to hell

2. Education - secondary socialization (norms and values), you learn that if toy do something wrong you get punished, correspondence principle (myth of meritocracy)

Summarize Marxists perspective in 4 points

1. Capitalism is criminogenic

2. The law is made by the capitalism elite

3. All classes not just the working classes commit crimes

4. The state practices selective law enforcement

What does "a capitalist society is criminogenic" mean?

That crime is built in and a natural "outgrowth" of a capitalist society

What is it called, where capitalism makes us aspire to an unrealistic/unattainable lifestyle?

False needs

What does "false needs" mean?

When someone wants something, but doesn't need it (capitalism draws you in so you buy more)

What influenced means you spend more money?

• influencers

• prices (sales)

• promotion/marketing

• recommendations from friends

• branding/logos

If capitalism generates inequality and poverty, does this lead to more or less crime?

More crime

What types of crime do you expect to see?

• theft

• burglary

• child labor

• drug taking/drug selling

• tax evasion - bourgoise *not paying the tax on their products

What theory does this link to?

Strain theory (failed legitimately so turn to illegitimate means)

What does Gordon call capitalist societies?

Dog eat dog societies

What does "dog eat dog societies" mean?

Where the individual company and the individual look out for their own interests before the interests of others

How do businesses compete? Give example

Pricing Eg. SHEIN (low paid employees)

Give example of competitive pricing

Tesco price matches Aldi

What does Gordon say is surprising?

That the working class doesn't commit more crimes

Marxists believe that the only way businesses are successful, is to make the most money, ensuring survival - give an example of a real world example of this

Grenfell tower

Grenfell tower - how were costs cut which led to loss of lives?

• cheaper cladding systems

• combustable insulation

• inadequate fire barriers

• ignoring residents safety concerns

What type of crimes do working class criminals commit?

Violent crimes

What are crimes call committed by the ruling class?

White collar crimes

Why do the crimes of the ruling clans go undetected?

They can pay off the law (police, lawyers, judges)

What does Box argue the definition of serious crime is?

Socially constructed

This theory ignores serious crimes caused by corporations - what does this include?

Enviornmental damage, human rights violations, illegal wars and genocide

This response to the law acts as a what?

Smokescreen

What does a "smokescreen" suggest?

That the law is impartial and even the ruling class can be prosecuted (whereas in reality is is more likely that the working class will be prosecuted for their crimes)

The impression from official statistics - is that crime is which class phenomenon?

Working class phenomenon

Why can we critique this view of official statistics?

They are socially constructed (the upper classes put these statistics together)

What does Chambliss argue?

Suggests that there is 1 rule for the rich and 1 rule for the poor

Give examples of white collar crime?

Fraud, tax evasions, embezzlement and breaches in health and safety

Why are white collar crimes less punished?

As they go un-detected as they are unseen

What does selective law enforcement give?

A false impression of crime (and distracts the working class from thr exploitation they experience)

What was the disaster called that happened in India in 1984?

Bhopal disaster

What was the Bhopal disaster?

Where a chemical company plant leaked poisonous gas which causes 25,000 deaths and 120,000 people suffering serve symptoms

Why did the Bhopal disaster arise?

Because the union carbide broke health and safety laws

How does the Bhopal disaster link to Marxism?

These big businesses have companies in under developed countries as they get cheaper rent, can pay workers low wages and have weak health and safety laws (so this company prioritized money/profit over safety of people and workers)

STARTER

What does Marxists believe when they said capitalism is criminogenic?

Capitalism encouraged crime, it is a natural aspect of a capitalist society (through creating “false needs”)