marxism like functionalism, marxism sees the structures and institutions of society as largely...
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Marxism
• Like Functionalism, Marxism sees the structures and institutions of society as largely determining how people behave.
• Crime is generated by the structure of capitalist society.
• Capitalism emphasises individual gain rather than collective wellbeing.
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• Capitalism is a competitive system which encourages aggression and emphasises the importance of winning.
• An exploitive system where some gain at the expense of others.
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• Given these priorities it is short step to seeing the end as justifying the means.
• Personal gain is so important that breaking the law is seen as a minor barrier to success.
• Pressures to break the law will affect people from all social classes.
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• Crimes motivated by financial gain can be seen as a logical outcome of the priorities of profit.
• Crimes with no apparent financial motive can be seen as an expression of frustration, aggression and hostility which the system produces.
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The Law
• Laws represent the interests of the ruling class.
• Eg vagrancy laws of medieval England. The Black Death cut the labour force in half so unemployed forced to work.
• The many laws protecting private property reflect the growth of industry and the expansion of trade and profit.
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• Laws which appear to protect the working-class also benefit the ruling class eg health and safety laws.
• Laws which are not passed are also important.
• The ruling class defines and controls what is defined as criminal.
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Law Enforcement
• ‘One law for the rich and one law for the poor’.
• The law is enforced selectively.
• There is a systematic bias in favour of those at the top.
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Criticisms
• Explains crime of all social classes.
• Explains a wide variety of offences.
• Explains the selective enforcement of the law.
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Criticisms
• However does not explain crime in a Communist society.
• Many sociologists reject the view that there is a fundamental conflict of interest between the ruling and subject classes in capitalist societies and the exploitation of one by the other.