1. Marxist perspectives of Crime and Deviance
Lesson 6
Marxist perspectives of Crime and Deviance

2. Identify and define why Marxist see crime as inevitable in capitalist society,
Identify and define traditional and neo-marxist approaches to crime and deviance, and the similarities and differences between them,
Apply and evaluate the strengths and limitations of marxist and neo-marxist approaches to crime and deviance.

3. A - Z
Back To Starters
e.g. Write down a key/related word for our topic area for as many letters of the alphabet as you can.
Arms
Bay
Conflict
Darfur
Earth
Freedom
Guantanamo
Harm

4. What do we remember about the Marxist?
In your notebook create a spider diagram summarising everything that you remmber about Marxism

5. Traditional Marxism 3 key concepts: Criminogenic capitalism,
State and law making,
Ideological functions of crime and law.

6. Criminogenic capitalism
Crime is inevitable in capitalism as it is criminogenic (crime by its very nature causes crime),
Crime is essentially based on the exploitation of the working class thus it is more damaging to them:
Poverty may mean that crime is the only way to survive,
Crime can be the only way to obtain the consumer good encouraged by society,
Alienation and a lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration and aggression thus resulting in non utilitarian crime.

7. Criminogenic Capitalism
Gordon (1976) – crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence is found in all social classes not just the working classes,
Capitalism is a dog eat dog world system of ruthless competition amongst capitalist with key focus points:
Profit motive = mentality of greed and self interest,
White collar crime = need to win at all cost and self interest

8. Does capitalist consumerism encourages utilitarian crime ?
WDYT
Does capitalist consumerism encourages utilitarian crime ?

9. State and law making
State and the laws only seen as serving the interest of the ruling class:
Chambliss (1975) – laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy (colonisation)
Snider (1993) – the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that are likely to regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profitability (unequal distribution of health)

10. Selective Enforcement
Reiman (2001) – the rich get richer and the poor get prison,
Marxist argue that although all classes commit crime when it comes the application of the laws there is selective enforcement ,
Powerless groups such as ethnic minorities, and the working class are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.

11. WDYT
Suggest two examples of “dog eat dog” situations produced by capitalism
Identify three more examples each of typical street crimes and typical higher class crimes.

12. Ideological Functions of the Law
Laws are occasionally passed that appear for the benefit of the working class rather than capitalism (health and safety laws),
Carson (1971) – lack of enforcement of such laws through survey of 200 firms,
Due to selective enforcement, crime appears to be largely a working class phenomenon, thus encouraging the working class to blame the criminals in their midst as opposed to capitalism

13. On your take groups using your notes, each come up with a single criticism of the traditional Marxism

14. Neo – Marxism (Critical Criminology)
Combination of the Marxist perspectives and labelling theory:
Taylor, Walton and Young (1973) – The New Criminology,
Agree that capitalist is based on exploitation and class conflict and characterised by extreme inequalities of wealth,
The state makes and enforces laws in the interest of the capitalist class and criminalises the members of the working class,
Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society this would reduce the extent of crime and even rid society of crime entirely.

15. Anti