Traditional Marxism view on crime and deviance

Infrastructure and superstructure Traditional Marxists examine crime and deviance in capitalist societies. In a capitalist society, those who have power are those who own the means of production (bourgeoisie) Marxists argue that in a capitalist society the economy which controls the production of goods and profit (infrastructure) influences and controls the institutions of society (superstructure) Since the infrastructure works in the interests of the bourgeoisie since they own and control it, hence, their interests are also reflected in the superstructure through the dominant ideology As part of the superstructure eg the state, agencies of social control, the law and definitions of deviance in general, reflect and serve the ruling class and their interests

For Marxists, the structure of the capitalist society explains crime For Marxists, the structure of the capitalist society explains crime. Their view has three main elements 1: criminogenic crime 2: the state and law making 3: ideological functions of crime and law

Criminogenic crime

For Marxists, crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic- by its very nature it causes crime It is the human cost of capitalists using the w/c for profit- capitalism is based on the exploitation of the w/c by using them as a means to an end (profit) Poverty may mean that crime is the only way that the w/c can survive Crime is the only way they can obtain the consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising, resulting in crimes such as theft Alienation and lack of control leads to frustration and aggression, resulting in crimes like vandalism and other non utilitarian crimes However, crime is not just confined to w/c. capitalism is a dog eat dog system (Gordon) of ruthless competition among capitalists, while the profit motive encouraged a mentalist of greed and self interest The need to win at all costs leads capitalists to commit white collar crimes and corporate crimes like tax evasion and breaches to health and safety laws Upper classes commit crime as capitalism causes greed as it involves the pursuit of profit- they are never satisfied with what they have and are always looking to increase what they have w/c commit crime as the ideology of capitalism encourages a ‘culture of envy’ among poorer sections of society that may encourage a criminal reaction. They cannot achieve ends legitimately due to exploitation thus turn to crime to be able to gain things

Gordon Argues that crime is rational- part of a dog eat dog system – individuals must fend for themselves in order to survive This is particularly for the American poor since there are minimal welfare benefits

The state and law making

All laws are not created from value consensus, they are just made to benefits the ruling class in some way Eg through laws to stop the w/c uprising; to protect their property and wealth- inheritance laws; definitions of crime and deviance aim to suppress the w/c

Chambliss He suggests that the laws that are not passed (non decision making) are as important as those that are passed (decision making) He gives an example of laws that might legally be defined as criminal if the bourgeoisie didn’t control beliefs about what should/shouldn’t be defined as such eg the wife of an attorney general has 200 pairs of shoes, while in the Appalachian mountains parents cannot afford to buy their children a single pair Such a behaviour is justified by ruling class ideology such as they’ve earned their money, they have the right to spend it as they see fit Laws in our society also aim to protect private property. In capitalist societies the private property has an important economic function Bourgeoisie make laws in favour of them while ideologically indoctrinating individuals to think theyre looking out for them

Snider The capitalist state is often reluctant to pass laws which regulate large capitalist concerns and which might threaten their profitability She ways that capitalist states often spread vast sums of money trying to attract investment from large corporations. They offer tax concessions, cheap loads and grants and build expensive infrastructures to help companies operate successfully The government is often reluctant to pass or enforce stringent laws against pollution, worker health and safety or monopolies She says that corporate crimes cost more in terms of money and lives than street crime Thus, the ruling class have the power to prevent the introduction of laws that would threaten their interests so these are few laws that seriously challenge the unequal distribution of wealth Eg bp oil disaster in the gulf of mexico- environmental offence Don’t see crimes they do as being significant as w/c crimes, more often seen as an accident as they produce capital

Selective enforcement Although all classes commit crime, when it comes to the application system, there is selective enforcement. While powerless groups such as the w/c and ethnic minorities are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful Reimans book the ‘rich get richer and the poor get prison’ shows the higher class individuals who commit crime are less likely to be treated as a criminal offender. Also suggests that white collar and corporate crimes are under policed and under punished

Ideological functions of crime and law

Althusser: ISA: serves the interests of capitalists by maintaining and legitimating class inequality 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 w/c rather than capitalism, such as workplace health and safety laws- capitalism acts as though it has a ‘caring face’

Pearce Laws often benefit the ruling class eg by keeping workers fit for work by giving capitalism a caring face. Such laws also create false class consciousness among the workers. The caring face of capitalism prevents an uprising of the w/c eg give them welfare etc to keep them in a state of false class consciousness Eg disrali The prosecution of some members of the ruling class makes it appear as though the law is applied fairly The extra policing of w/c is justified by the notion that they are more prone to crime than other sections of society through official statistics. This generates a false perception of crime and a public feat of small scale crimes more typically committed by the w/c. attention is distracted from ruling class crimes to such an extent threat they may not even occur as constituting a crime

Box: mystification Capitalism has spread the ideology that corporate crimes are less widespread or harmful than w/c crime Capitalisms control of the state means that it is able to avoid making or enforcing laws that conflict with its interests While some corporate crime is prosecuted, this is only ever the tip of the ice burg. Mystification refers to false consciousness and white collar/corporate crime By this he means that the myth is spread that these crimes are less serious or widespread They are for example reported less whereas w/c crimes are overrepresented on the media meaning we are unaware of the real scale corporate crimes

Why do traditional Marxists see corporate crime as more serious than street crime White collar crimes and corporate crime such as theft of burglary Eg one estimate puts the cost of white collar crime in the usa at over ten times that of ordinary crime

A03 to traditional Marxism

Marxism shows a useful explanation of the relationship between crime and capitalist society It highlights the link between law making, enforcement and the capitalist class It puts into structural context the insights of labelling theory regarding the selective enforcement of the law Ignores the relationship between crime and gender/ ethnicity Too deterministic- overpredicts the amount of w/c crime, not all commit crime Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates eg japan and switzerland ( more to do with lack of welfare support) The bourgeoisie don’t always get away with it – cjs does act against the interests of the capitalist class eg prosecutions of corporate crime do occur Marxists ignore that inter class crimes happen such as burglary and muggings within the w/c

Marxist explanations link to dark area of crime Corporate crimes are under reported or not reported at all Domestic violent – alienation Overreporting of the w/c