Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess different Marxist views of the relationship between crime and social class. (21) The traditional Marxists believe that the main cause of crime is the capitalist society. They believe that crime is inevitable because capitalism is criminogenic, by it’s very nature it causes crime. David Gordon argues that crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes, even thought the statistics make it seem to be a largely working class phenomenon,. Poverty may mean that crime is the only way that the working class can survive, as crime may e the only way that they can obtain the consumer goods encouraged by the capitalist advertising, resulting in utilitarian crimes such as theft.
Outline + assess the Marxist explanations for crime and deviance . Marxist theories of crime are based on conflict. They claim that society is divided by capitalism and there is a conflict between the upper-classes and the working-classes. They suggest that social inequality, as a result of capitalism, is the cause of crime. The starting point for Marxist and neo-Marxist approaches is the laws, and how the ways that they are created and enforced may favour certain groups; the ruling/upper-classes.
Marxist theory provides an explanation of how crime is dealt with in society, in order to maintain the status quo. Capitalist plays a big part in this, as they divert attention of the masses away from the try causes of their situation and the criminal justice system helps capitalist play on this as society sees young, working class black/white males as the criminal groups. Moral panic occurs in society when, once again, the upper class journalists write only cases where black youths have ‘mugged’ a white upper class person and that the fact they are wearing a ‘hoody’ shows they are lower class and looking for trouble. People in society will watch the news and read newspapers
Assess different Marxist views of the relationship between crime and social class. (21 marks) Marxists attack traditional sociological theories of crime and deviance because they believe that crime arises from the very definitions of crime (what it is) as determined by the ruling classes. Traditional explanations are incorrect because they are based on definitions of crime that are imposed by those in authority and these laws are an expression of ruling class ideology. Essentially they argue that the criminal justice system is managed by the bourgeoisie, who set the parameters of what is legal and otherwise to suit their own means. Because Marxists see the ‘system’ as the cause of crime, much of the focus is on systems of power and control (that is, the police and courts).
The term criminogenic refers to a system, situation or place which is likely to cause criminal behaviour. Marxists argue that the capitalism is criminogenic as its very nature causes people to commit crimes. This is due to the inequalities created by capitalism – the bourgeoisie and the proletariats. The bourgeoisie use a variety of techniques and methods to ensure that they remain the ruling class, including exploiting the working class. The working class face few chances to achieve social mobility due to a variety of factors including, material deprivation, poverty, labelling, RSAs such as the police and a false consciousness.
Seen through a marxist lens, the issue of crime and deviance is rooted in the criminogenic nature of capitalism and its exploitation of the proletariat working class by their bourgeois rulers. Marxist views are useful in their linking of crime to societal structure and explaining why the working class appear to be high offenders. However, this view often excludes the effect of gender and ethnicity, neglects the victims and downplays the seriousness of 'blue-collar' crime, and can be partially disproven using contemporary examples. Capitalism, according to Robert Merton, provides certain values for society, most commonly seen as the 'American Dream' and when the proletariat seek to achieve the goals society sets for them, many cannot and must find a way around this 'strain'. This happens in many ways, but Merton most pertinently mentions 'innovative' citizens who commit crime to achieve society's goals, 'rebels' who actively reject society's values, causing them to commit crime and a 'retreatist' form of living that often involved law-breaking via drug consumption.
I believe this can be strongly tied into the Marxist ideas of commodity fetishism and false consciousness as the culture industry creates repressive and alienating effects through products and commodities. The theory of commodity fetishism basically states that people experience social relationships as value relations between things. False consciousness is a theory that states that material and institutional processes in capitalistic societies basically mislead the lower and working classes through the power of capitalism. It seems as if people within capitalistic societies allow their lives to be organized or controlled through the medium of commodities. We trade our own commodities (such as labour) for a special commodity: money.
First, it is important to realize Congress is largely composed of members from the capitalist class itself, so it might naturally want to protect “its own”. Also, campaign contributions and the lobbying process greatly influence how Congress passes laws benefitting big business. Parenti says “The power of money works ceaselessly to reduce the influence of citizens who have nothing to offer but their votes.” Parenti explains how the “legislative labyrinth” affects the work of Congress, how Senate terms of office blunt sweeping sentiment changes, and how the very structure of Congress keeps it conservative and supportive of capitalists, not every-day Americans. He notes “legislative democracy is under siege,” held virtually hostage by “the entire corporate social order” with its control of the nation’s wealth, mass media, and whole network of powerful figures
The variability in prices in the market was due to the business practices of speculators, who used their abundant resources to manipulate prices to their advantages. This led to more extreme booms and busts and overall hardships for the average American. This was perceived as an oppressive system and led to the growth of new economic theories promoted by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels who called the dissolution of custom, tradition and morality “in the icy waters of egotistical calculation” the reason for humanities
Now big corporations and rich people often found their beliefs on the concept of capitalism. Can capitalism coexist with Democracy? This question is a tough one to answer since it is almost really subjective. It is of my personal belief that both capitalism and democracy can exist peacefully in American society without causing too many economic inequalities. Our society exemplifies a society where both capitalism and democracy coexist the problem is the majority of individual of this nation are unhappy with their economic situation.