Marxism

• 2 Strengths of Marxism

  Strength - Provides an explanation for crime that covers all social classes + different offences.

  Strength - Demonstrates how law reflects differences in power between social classes + inequality in society leads to crime.
• 2 Limitations of Marxism

  Limitation - Many cases for white-collar crime committed by high-profile figures e.g. Bernie Madoff + 'The Wolf of Wall Street'.

  Limitation - Largely ignores other non-class inequalities i.e. gender/ethnicity.
• What do Marxists believe?

  Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society and is used by the ruling class as a means of social control.
• What happens if you don't conform?

  Punishment.

  Institutions such as police, justice system, prisons, schools, family and religion are there to encourage you to conform.
• What do Marxists argue about crimes?

  White-collar crime, committed by the more powerful, are largely ignored.

  Crimes committed by the less powerful I.e. Street crime are focused on and seen as more serious.
• What do Marxists argue about different social classes?

  Working class heavily policed in the expectation that they will be more criminal and therefore raising the chances of their crimes being detected.
• What view do Marxists hold?

  Government fabricates statistics of crime to suit their purposes and get public support for any action taken that might be construed as trespassing on freedoms. 42% government statistics are false and misleading.
• What is Marxism?


  Philosophy that examines the effect of capitalism on labor, productivity, and economic development.

  Argues for a worker revolution to overturn capitalism in favour of communism.