AQA A2 Sociology, Marxist theories on crime and deviance.

1. CRIME AND DEVIANCE

2. Marxism is a structural theory and sees society as
being divided into two classes: the bourgeoisie (the
ruling upper class) and the proletariats (the working
class). They believe the bourgeoisie exploit and
alienate the proletariats for their gain in profit.
Their view of crime has 3 main elements…

3. For Marxists, crime is inevitable because capitalism is
criminogenic (by it’s very nature it causes crime).
Capitalism gives rise to crime…
Poverty can mean crime is the only way the working
class can survive
Crime could be the only way of them obtaining
consumer goods which are encouraged through
capitalist advertising
Alienation and lack of control leads to frustration and
aggression resulting in non-utilitarian crime.

4. However, crime is not confined to the working class.
Capitalism is a ‘dog eat dog’ system of ruthless
competition amongst capitalists; the profit motive
encourages a mentality of greed. The need to win leads
to them committing white collar crime (for example
fraud).
Gordon argues that crime is a rational response to the
capitalist system so it is found in all social classes.

5. Marxists argue that law making and law enforcement
serve the bourgeoisie.
Chambliss says laws that protect property are the
cornerstone of the capitalist economy. He illustrates this
with the introduction of English law into our East
African colonies. To force the African population to work
for the British, they introduced tax only payable by cash.
Of course, to earn the cash, you had to work, and if you
didn’t pay, you were seen as a criminal. This served the
needs of the capitalists.

6. Furthermore, the bourgeoisie can prevent laws that
could pose a threat to their interest.
Snider argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass
laws that regulate the activities of businesses or their
profitability.

7. Although all classes commit crime, there is selective
enforcement when it comes to applying the law on
behalf of the criminal justice system. Crimes of the
powerful are ignored.
Reimans book shows that the more likely a crime is to
be committed by the upper class, the less likely it is to
be treated as a criminal act. There is a less forgiving
view of street crime than upper class crime.

8. The law, crime and criminals all perform an ideological
function for capitalism.
But, laws are occasionally passed that appear to benefit
the working class.
Pearce says such laws often benefit the ruling class
too. For example, keeping workers fit for work gives a
false impression of ‘caring’ of the capitalist.
Carson found all 200 firms in his study had broken
health and safety regulations, but only 1.5% of cases
resulted in prosecution.

9. Furthermore, because the state enforces law
selectively, crime appears to be widely amongst the
working class. This divides the working class by
encouraging them to blame criminals over capitalism.
Also, the media portraying criminals as disturbed
conceals capitalism.

10. This view offers a useful explanation of the
relationship between crime and capitalism – it puts
into wider structural context the insights of labelling
theory regarding selective enforcement.
Slapper and Thomas say corporate crime is uner
policed and regularly forgiven. This encourages
companies to make use of crime as a means of making
profit.

11. Ignores the link between crime and gender/ethnicity
Too deterministic (not all of the working class commit
crime)
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (this
could be due to no state welfare provision)
The criminal justice system can act against capitalism
Left realists argue they ignore ‘intra class’ crime (both
criminals and victims are working class)

12. Taylor, Walton and Young agree with Marxists that…
Capitalist society is based on exploitation and class
conflict which is characterised by inequalities of
wealth and power – understanding this is
understanding crime.
The state makes and enforces laws in the interest of
capitalism and criminalises the working class.
A classless society is needed to reduce/abolish crime.

13. Taylor et al argue that traditional Marxism is
deterministic. They say that crime is a meaningful
action and conscious choice by the actor. This is a
‘voluntaristic view’. They think crime has a political
motive – criminals strive to change society.
Although they want a classless society, they emphasise
the importance of individual liberty and diversity. We
should be free to live our lives as we wish, and not be
labelled.

14. This theory has two main sources:
Traditional Marxist ideas about the unequal
distribution of wealth and who makes/enforces the
law.
Interactionalists/labelling ideas about the meaning of
the deviant act for the actor, societal reactions and the
effects of a label.

15. Wider origins of the deviant act (wealth and power)
Immediate origins (context in which it was
committed)
The act itself (meaning for the actor)
Immediate origins of societal reaction (police, family,
community)
Wider origins of societal reaction (capitalism, power)
The effects of labelling (on the actors future)

16. Feminists say this theory is ‘gender bias’ and focuses
on male criminality at the expense of female
criminality.
Left realists say it romanticises working class criminals
as ‘Robin Hoods’, when they actually prey on the poor.
It ignores the effects on working class victims.
Hopkins Burke says it is too general to explain crime
and too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime.

17. Since their book, Taylor et al have changed their views.
Nevertheless, Walton and Young still defend some of it’s
aspects…
The book combatted the ‘correctionalist bias’ in most
existing theories
It laid some foundations for later radical approaches