Transcript Marxism File

Marxism
• Like Functionalism, Marxism sees the
structures and institutions of society as
largely determining how people behave.
• Crime is generated by the structure of
capitalist society.
• Capitalism emphasises individual gain
rather than collective wellbeing.
• Capitalism is a competitive system which
encourages aggression and emphasises
the importance of winning.
• An exploitive system where some gain at
the expense of others.
• Given these priorities it is short step to
seeing the end as justifying the means.
• Personal gain is so important that
breaking the law is seen as a minor
barrier to success.
• Pressures to break the law will affect
people from all social classes.
• Crimes motivated by financial gain can
be seen as a logical outcome of the
priorities of profit.
• Crimes with no apparent financial motive
can be seen as an expression of
frustration, aggression and hostility
which the system produces.
The Law
• Laws represent the interests of the ruling
class.
• Eg vagrancy laws of medieval England.
The Black Death cut the labour force in
half so unemployed forced to work.
• The many laws protecting private
property reflect the growth of industry
and the expansion of trade and profit.
• Laws which appear to protect the
working-class also benefit the ruling class
eg health and safety laws.
• Laws which are not passed are also
important.
• The ruling class defines and controls
what is defined as criminal.
Law Enforcement
• ‘One law for the rich and one law for the
poor’.
• The law is enforced selectively.
• There is a systematic bias in favour of
those at the top.
Criticisms
• Explains crime of all social classes.
• Explains a wide variety of offences.
• Explains the selective enforcement of the
law.
Criticisms
• However does not explain crime in a
Communist society.
• Many sociologists reject the view that
there is a fundamental conflict of interest
between the ruling and subject classes in
capitalist societies and the exploitation of
one by the other.