Marxian approach to crime

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💠 Marxian Approach to Crime – Detailed Analysis (LLB Exam Perspective)

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🔹 1. Introduction

The Marxian (or Marxist) approach to crime is based on the ideas of Karl Marx, the 19th-century philosopher and economist who developed the theory of Marxism.
According to this approach, crime is a product of social and economic inequality created by the capitalist system.

In simple terms —

“People commit crimes not because they are evil, but because society itself is unequal and unjust.”

Marxian criminology looks at how class conflict, poverty, and exploitation influence criminal behavior and how laws serve the interests of the powerful (bourgeoisie) rather than the poor (proletariat).

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🔹 2. Theoretical Background

• Karl Marx (1818–1883) developed the theory of class struggle — between the bourgeoisie (ruling capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class).
• In capitalist societies, wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a few.
• The poor are forced to break laws to survive, while the rich create laws to protect their property and power.

Thus, crime is not only an individual act but also a social reaction to inequality.

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🔹 3. Main Ideas of Marxian Theory of Crime

Key Concept	Explanation (in easy words)
1. Class Conflict	Crime arises from the conflict between rich and poor. The poor are criminalized, while the crimes of the rich are hidden or ignored.
2. Economic Inequality	Poverty, unemployment, and exploitation push people towards theft, robbery, or illegal work.
3. Law as a Tool of the Ruling Class	Laws are made by the rich to protect their property, not to promote justice. Example: property crimes are punished harshly, but corporate fraud often goes unnoticed.
4. Ideological Control	The state and media make the poor believe crime is their fault, not society’s.
5. Selective Enforcement	Police and courts target poor offenders, while white-collar crimes (committed by the rich) are ignored.

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🔹 4. Important Scholars and Their Views

🧠 1. Karl Marx

• Not a criminologist directly, but his ideas on class conflict, capitalism, and alienation form the foundation.
• Believed that under capitalism, people are alienated from society and lose moral connection, leading to deviance and crime.

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🧠 2. Willem Bonger (1876–1940)

• One of the first Marxist criminologists.
• Wrote “Criminality and Economic Conditions” (1916).
• Argued that capitalism encourages greed, selfishness, and competition, leading to criminal behavior.
• Said that in capitalist society, morality is based on profit, not human welfare.
• In contrast, socialism promotes cooperation and reduces crime.

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🧠 3. Richard Quinney (1970s)

• Famous work: “Class, State, and Crime.”
• Said that law represents the interests of the powerful, not society as a whole.
• The ruling class defines crime to control the poor and maintain power.
• For example, striking workers are punished, but corporate polluters are not.

Quinney called the criminal justice system a “weapon of class control.”

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🧠 4. Chambliss and Seidman (1971)

• Argued that law is not neutral; it reflects the economic interests of elites.
• Police and courts selectively enforce laws that protect those in power.
• Example: In developing nations, crimes like theft or protest are punished severely, while corruption among elites is tolerated.

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🧠 5. William Chambliss

• His study “The Saints and the Roughnecks” (1973) showed that social class influences how people are labelled as criminals.
• Middle-class youth were excused as “misbehaving,” while poor youth were arrested for the same acts.
• This shows how crime is socially constructed through class bias.

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🔹 5. Marxian Explanation of Crime

Marxian criminologists argue that:

1. Capitalism creates conditions for crime — unemployment, inequality, and exploitation.
2. Property crimes (like theft, robbery) are common among the poor due to economic necessity.
3. White-collar crimes (like fraud, corruption, tax evasion) are committed by the rich to maintain their wealth.
4. Law enforcement favors the rich — they make laws and control police, courts, and prisons.
5. Prisons are used to control and discipline the poor rather than to reform them.

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🔹 6. Types of Crimes in Marxian View

Type of Crime	Who Commits It	Why It Happens (Marxian View)
Working-Class Crime	Poor or unemployed	Out of poverty, inequality, or survival struggle.
Corporate / White-Collar Crime	Businessmen, officials	To protect profits and maintain dominance.
Political Crime	State and ruling class	To silence opposition and maintain control.

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🔹 7. Criticisms of Marxian Approach

1. Economic Determinism:
   It overemphasizes economic factors and ignores psychological, cultural, and personal causes of crime.

2. Neglects Non-Class Crimes:
   Crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault, or hate crimes can’t be explained only by class struggle.

3. Idealistic View of Socialism:
   Belief that crime will disappear under socialism is unrealistic — crime also exists in socialist societies.

4. One-Sided:
   Sees criminals as victims of capitalism, ignoring personal responsibility.

5. Limited Practical Application:
   Does not provide concrete solutions for immediate crime control.

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🔹 8. Strengths of Marxian Theory

1. Highlights economic inequality and class bias in the justice system.
2. Exposes double standards — how the rich manipulate the law.
3. Promotes a more socially aware and compassionate approach to justice.
4. Encourages focus on social reform, not just punishment.

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🔹 9. Marxian Approach and India (Value Addition for Exam)

In India, Marxian ideas are reflected in:

• Crimes by poor due to poverty — theft, bonded labour, child labour.
• Crimes by powerful elites — corruption, scams, and political misuse.
• Movements like Naxalism — a reaction to economic inequality and exploitation of landless farmers.
• Judicial interpretation: Some Indian judgments recognize economic injustice as a root cause of crime.

Example:

• State of Maharashtra v. Maruti Shripati Dubal (1986) – the court noted that poverty and unemployment are major reasons for crimes and suicides.

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🔹 10. Conclusion

The Marxian approach to crime sees crime as a symptom of a sick society — one that is divided by class and greed.
It teaches that to reduce crime, we must first reduce poverty, inequality, and exploitation.

“In an equal and just society, crime will naturally decrease.”

Though criticized for being too idealistic, Marxian criminology remains one of the most influential and human-centered perspectives, reminding us that justice is not only legal but also social and economic.

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✍️ Exam Writing Tip (for 14–16 marks)

Structure your answer like this:

1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
3. Main Ideas
4. Key Scholars
5. Explanation of Crime
6. Criticisms
7. Strengths
8. Indian Context
9. Conclusion

✅ Underline key terms: Karl Marx, Class Conflict, Economic Inequality, Willem Bonger, Richard Quinney, White-Collar Crime, Law as a Tool of Ruling Class.

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