Willem Bonger - Criminogenic Capitalism

What does Bonger argue?

argued that the economic and social structure of capitalism itself generates crime

• capitalism is criminogenic

What are Bonger’s points on how Capitalism is Criminogenic

• Capitalism produces Egoism

• Capitalism causes Poverty, Inequality and Alienation

• All Social Classes Commit Crime

• Capitalism is the Cause of Anomie

• Human beings are not Naturally Selfish

Capitalism produces Egoism - Bonger

Capitalism is based on private ownership of the means of production and the pursuit of profit

• creates a society organised around competition, material success, and individual gain

Promotes egoism whilst discouraging Altruism

Who reinforces Bonger’s idea that Capitalism produces Egoism

Paul Gordon

• describes capitalism as a ‘dog eat dog’ society

Capitalism is characterised by competition, individualism and greed

What does Bonger suggest that this Moral Climate of Egoism does?

• Undermines social solidary

• Encourages individuals to act in ways that prioritise their own advantage

Even if it harms of breaks the law!!

Capitalism causes Poverty, Inequality and Alienation - Bonger

In capitalistic societies, the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat

• WC often feel alienated and impoverished - forced to sell their labour for survival, whilst RC accumulates wealth

According to Bonger how does Poverty, Inequality and Alienation cause crime?

Creates structural inequality and relative deprivation

• conditions that push individuals into utilitarian crime - means of survival or as a response to frustration of the disconnection from their work

All Social Classes Commit Crime - Bonger

Rejected the idea that crime is only a WC problem

• bourgeoisie - white collar and corporate crimes, motivated by greed, profit, and competition

Capitalism produces different forms of criminality - both survival crime among the poor and power crime among the rich

Capitalism is the Cause of Anomie - Bonger

Capitalism erodes collective morality and weakens bonds of social cohesion

• promotes culture where success is measured by material gain, and ethical or communal values are secondary

This moral breakdown increases Anomie (similar to what Durkheim described), but linked specifically to capitalist exploitation

Human beings are not Naturally Selfish - Bonger

Believed that crime is not innate to human nature, but a product of social conditions

Why does Bonger purpose a Socialist Society as a solution to Crime

Socialist society - resources are shared and cooperating replaces competition: people motivated by Altruism

Therefore, crime rates would fall - economic and moral pressures that cause crime under capitalism would no longer exist

Is Bonger a Traditional Marxist or a Neo-Marxist?

Traditional Marxist