Marxism

• Marxism is a structural theory; the structure of society shapes people's behaviour, including their criminal behaviour. Marxists argue that capitalist society is divided into two classes:

  • The ruling capitalist class or bourgeoisie who own the means of production (businesses, banks, land etc)
  • The working class or proletariat, whose labour the capitalists exploit to make profit.
• Capitalism is crimogenic. The capitalist system encourages criminal behaviour; if people don’t have enough money, they may turn to crime to survive a ‘dog eat dog‘ world.
• The law is made by the capitalist elite and tends to work in their interests. The law is made by the richest of the rich, so they can manipulate the lower classes so they keep or increase their wealth.
• All classes commit crime. The crimes of the capitalist class are more costly than street crime. Street crime like stealing or mugging costs less than suite crime, like corporate or white collar crime.
• The state practices selective law enforcement. The criminal justice system, mainly concerns itself with policing and punishing the marginalised, not the wealthy. This performs ideological functions for the elite classes.
• Capitalism encourages individuals to be materialistic consumers. Capitalism encourages greed and the pursuit of wealth. We are enticed to buy things and this could lead individuals to commit crime if they can’t afford the material goods. Commodity fetishisation is an obsession with things.
• Features of crimogenic capitalism 1/2

  • exploitation of the working class drives many people into poverty. Crime may be used as a way to survive: theft, selling stolen goods or drug dealing.
  • capitalism continuously pushes consumer goods at people with advertising. This results in utilitarian crimes (such as theft) to obtain them.
• Features of crimogenic capitalism 2/2

  • inequality causes feelings of alienation and frustration. This results in non-utilitarian crimes, such as violence and vandalism.
  • capitalism is a dog eat dog system and the profit motive promotes greed. It encourages capitalists to commit corporate crimes, such as tax evasion and breaking health and safety laws to gain an advantage.
• Chambliss says that economic crime represents rational responses to the competitiveness and inequality of life in capitalist societies. The Fyre Festival was planned to take place in 2017 and cost £45,000 per ticket. It was advertised by celebrities as best in food art and entertainment. The festival was promoted by Instagram influencers, but there were more ordinary people at the party than influencers. It didn’t take place. The luggage was dropped out of shipping containers. People behind the festival were convicted for fraud and only jailed for 6 years.
• An example of corporate crime is when Volkswagen knowingly fitted software into the engine to make emissions seem lower when in reality it was through the roof.
• Marxists argue that although they are hidden from view, the crimes of the elite exert a greater economic toll on society than the crimes of the 'ordinary people'. Snider points out that the cost of white collar crime and corporate crime to the economy far outweighs the cost of street crime by 'typical' criminals.
• • White Collar Crime: Crimes committed in the furtherance of an individual's own interests, often against the corporations of organisations within which they work.
  • Corporate Crime: Those crimes committed by or for corporations or businesses which act to further their interests and have a serious physical or economic impact on employees, consumers and the general public. The drive is usually the desire to increase profits.
• Lack of media on white collar crime is due to the facts that

  • its not something thats visible
  • people are mainly interested in the crimes al the streets
  • WCC & CC are frequently covered by those in power
  • corporate criminals may have links to media owners and editors, paying them off or bribing them.
  • media selectively chooses which crimes to focus on - manipulates the viewer.
• Marxists argue that the law helps to contribute to a "false class consciousness" - this is the idea that Capitalist society seems better than it actually is, and largely, we accept it instead of trying to change it. For example, health and safety laws in the workplace make it seem like we are protected and valued, when in reality, most of them are inadequate and may benefit capitalism by giving it a 'caring face'.