Marxism

• Marxists agree with the labelling theory's idea that the law is disproportionally against the working class however they also believe that labelling theory fails to look at the wider structure of capitalism.
• Marxists view a capitalist society as divided into two classes: The bourgeoisie and the proletariat. These groups are in conflict with each other.
• Marxists believe that capitalist is criminogenic, meaning that by its nature it causes crime.
• Marxists view of crime has three elements: Criminogenic capitalism, the state and law making, ideological functions of crime and law.
• Criminogenic capitalism: Capitalism causes crime by its very nature, it is inevitable. This is because capitalism is damaging to the working class causing crime rates to rise.
• Three reasons why capitalism is criminogenic:

  1. Poverty means crime may be the only way the working class can survive.
  2. Crime may be the only way the working class can obtain consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising.
  3. Alienation and lack of control over their lives may lead to frustration, resulting in violence and vandalism.