Neo-marxism

• Who are the authors of 'The New Criminology'?

  Taylor, Walton, and Young
• How do Neo-Marxist perspectives of crime differ from Marxist approaches?

  They focus on the power to criminalise
• What is the title of the book by Taylor, Walton and Young that is an example of the Neo-Marxist approach?

  The New Criminology
• How does the Neo-Marxist view of crime differ from the traditional Marxist view?

  Neo-Marxists believe crime is a voluntary act, often with a political motive, rather than being driven by economic necessity
• What are the two main sources of the 'fully social theory of deviance' proposed by Taylor, Walton and Young?

  Traditional Marxist ideas about unequal wealth distribution and power to make/enforce laws, and ideas from interactionism and labelling theory
• What is the key idea behind Stuart Hall's 'Policing the Crisis'?

  The 'black mugger' was used as a scapegoat to solidify a fractured UK society around the state, even though mugging incidents did not increase as quickly as before
• How does Stuart Hall's concept of 'relative autonomy' relate to the Neo-Marxist view of crime?


  Hall argues that control agencies like the police are influenced by the needs of capitalism, but have some autonomy, so the sociologist must uncover the links between their operations, effects on people, and benefits to the ruling class
• What was Paul Gilroy's view on the riots in Toxteth and Southall in 1981?


  Gilroy saw the riots as political acts of resistance by ethnic minorities against an unjust society
• What are some of the criticisms of the Neo-Marxist view of crime?

  Realists say it romanticizes working-class crime, the working class commit crimes against themselves, it over-emphasizes class inequality, and it is 'gender blind'
• How would Neo-Marxists explain knife crime in the UK?

  • Neo-Marxists would see knife crime as a political act of resistance by marginalized groups against an unjust society
  • They would argue knife crime is a way for the working class and ethnic minorities to redistribute wealth and power from the ruling class
  • Neo-Marxists would likely view the state's response to knife crime, such as increased policing, as an attempt to maintain the status quo and control these groups