Topic Sociologist/ Key findings
Theory
Marxism, Marxist Marxists agree with labelling theorists that the law is enforced disproportionately against the working class, but Marxists say
class and perspective that labelling theorist fail to analyse the source of power (private property and the state, not policemen). Marxists believe that
crime it is the capitalist economy that causes crime.
Criminogeni Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society i.e., the social system causes crime. A key point is that Marxist approaches believe
c capitalism that crime is a working class and middle/upper class phenomena.
- Working class crime: low wages/benefits means that criminality becomes a way to survive. Alienation, status frustration
leads to non-utilitarian crimes (violence). Crime can be the only way to obtain consumer goods.
- White collar/corporate crime: tax evasions and breaches of health and safety laws. Paying MPs to ask questions in
parliament to further their business. Fiddling the accounts and making false expenses claims.
The state Marxists characterise law making as only serving the interests of the capitalist class e.g., maintaining power and control. For
and law example, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were convicted to control the working class and stop unions forming. Chambliss (1975)
making argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of capitalist society. This isn’t a new idea, as British
imperialists forced Africans to work for capitalist plantation owners by introducing a tax payable only in cash. So, Africans
had to work on the plantations to earn this cash, to avoid punishment as it was criminal offence.
Snider (1993) argues that the capitalist state is ‘reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten
their profitability’.
Selective The police will only target specific social groups, such as working-class people or ethnic minorities, and ignore the crimes of the
enforcemen powerful.
t
Ideological Laws are occasionally passed that appear be for benefit of the working class rather than capitalism, e.g., workplace
functions of health and safety laws. BUT Pearce (1976) such laws often benefit the ruling class e.g., keeping workers fit for work. By
crime and giving capitalism a ‘caring’ face such laws also create false class consciousness among the workers.
law Laws are not rigorously enforced, and the state enforces the law selectively. Crime appears to be a largely working-class
phenomenon, this divides the working class, encouraging workers to blame the criminals in their midst for their problems
within capitalism.
The media and some criminologists also contribute by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals, thereby concealing
the fact that is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminals.
Evaluation 1. It is too deterministic and over-predicts the amount of crime in the working class, not all poor people commit crime despite
the pressures of poverty.
2. Left realists argue that Marxism ignores intra-class crimes such as burglary and mugging, this causes great harm to victims.
3. Ignore the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities e.g., ethnicity and gender.
4. Doesn’t explain crimes where people don’t gain money/individual psychological issues.
Neo- Taylor, Critical criminology approach. They agree with Marxists that:
Theory
Marxism, Marxist Marxists agree with labelling theorists that the law is enforced disproportionately against the working class, but Marxists say
class and perspective that labelling theorist fail to analyse the source of power (private property and the state, not policemen). Marxists believe that
crime it is the capitalist economy that causes crime.
Criminogeni Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society i.e., the social system causes crime. A key point is that Marxist approaches believe
c capitalism that crime is a working class and middle/upper class phenomena.
- Working class crime: low wages/benefits means that criminality becomes a way to survive. Alienation, status frustration
leads to non-utilitarian crimes (violence). Crime can be the only way to obtain consumer goods.
- White collar/corporate crime: tax evasions and breaches of health and safety laws. Paying MPs to ask questions in
parliament to further their business. Fiddling the accounts and making false expenses claims.
The state Marxists characterise law making as only serving the interests of the capitalist class e.g., maintaining power and control. For
and law example, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were convicted to control the working class and stop unions forming. Chambliss (1975)
making argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of capitalist society. This isn’t a new idea, as British
imperialists forced Africans to work for capitalist plantation owners by introducing a tax payable only in cash. So, Africans
had to work on the plantations to earn this cash, to avoid punishment as it was criminal offence.
Snider (1993) argues that the capitalist state is ‘reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten
their profitability’.
Selective The police will only target specific social groups, such as working-class people or ethnic minorities, and ignore the crimes of the
enforcemen powerful.
t
Ideological Laws are occasionally passed that appear be for benefit of the working class rather than capitalism, e.g., workplace
functions of health and safety laws. BUT Pearce (1976) such laws often benefit the ruling class e.g., keeping workers fit for work. By
crime and giving capitalism a ‘caring’ face such laws also create false class consciousness among the workers.
law Laws are not rigorously enforced, and the state enforces the law selectively. Crime appears to be a largely working-class
phenomenon, this divides the working class, encouraging workers to blame the criminals in their midst for their problems
within capitalism.
The media and some criminologists also contribute by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals, thereby concealing
the fact that is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminals.
Evaluation 1. It is too deterministic and over-predicts the amount of crime in the working class, not all poor people commit crime despite
the pressures of poverty.
2. Left realists argue that Marxism ignores intra-class crimes such as burglary and mugging, this causes great harm to victims.
3. Ignore the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities e.g., ethnicity and gender.
4. Doesn’t explain crimes where people don’t gain money/individual psychological issues.
Neo- Taylor, Critical criminology approach. They agree with Marxists that:
