neo-marxism/ new criminology

• neo-marxism


  • agree with ideas of marxism to an extent
  • combine/develop their ideas with other approaches such as labelling
  • argue social structures such as capitalism shaped criminal behaviour however also saw how individuals could demonstrate agency, free will
  • saw criminals as victims of social stigma (interactionism) and actively resisting elements of capitalism (marxism)
• Taylor et al - Anti-determinism

  • Taylor et al argue marxism is too deterministic
  • take a more voluntaristic view- see crime as a choice by the person
  • criminals are not passive puppets
• voluntaristic view


  • neo-marxists take voluntaristic view instead of deterministic view
  • idea that we have free will - opposite of determinism
• Taylor et al - fully social theory of deviance

  • Taylor et al aim to create a comprehensive understanding of crime and deviance, seeing deviance as being influenced by both structural forces and individual agency
  • stems from ideas of marxism and interactionism
  • stated 6 aspects of their theory
• first factor of theory of deviance - wider origins of the deviant act

  • refers to the power structures in society and social inequality
  • e.g wc struggle to live in society unequal structure leading to inability for them to have the goods and status that others have
• second factor of theory of deviance - immediate origins of deviant act

  • the particular circumstances in which the individual decides to commit the act.
  • e.g excluded because of lower status
• third factor of theory of deviance - actual act itself 


  • why did the person commit the criminal act
  • what was the meaning of the act for the individual
  • purpose of the act
  • e.g stealing to feed their family
  • e.g. was it a form of rebellion against capitalism?
• forth factor of theory of deviance - immediate origins of social reaction 


  • the reactions of those around the deviant, such as police, family and community, to discovering the deviance.
  • e.g sympathetic, shun upon, excluded
• fifth factor of theory of deviance - wider origins of social reaction

  • views of society on the deviant act
  • how the rest of society will act
  • may become labelled, leading to it being their master status, moral panics
• sixth factor of theory of deviance - impact of social reaction on future behaviour

  • The effects of labelling on the deviant's future actions
  • lead to master status, commit further crime
• a03 of the fully social theory

  • criticised for being too complex
  • idealistic - suggests crime is motivated by a desire to get revenge against inequalities in society
  • does not explain why crime is mostly committed against other working class individuals, not just the ruling class
  • romanticises working class crime
• hall - policing the crisis

  • influenced by the fully social theory to explain negative portrayal of black criminality
  • looked at the crisis of hegemony in the 70s - moral panics on 'mugging'
• In 1973 Taylor, Walton and Young published The New Criminology which combined Marxist and Interactionist approaches to crime.