Marxist Theory and Its Relation to Criminology
Marxism, or Scientific Socialism, is the label assigned to the group of ideas first worked out by Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895). In their entirety, these ideas give a fully worked-out theoretical groundwork for the struggle of the plebian classes to attain a higher form of human society - known as socialism.
Scientific socialism or Marxism is comprised of three component parts: Dialectical Materialism, Historical Materialism and Marxist Economics.
Just as the growing bourgeoisie challenged the conservative ideas of the old feudal aristocracy in its revolution against feudal society, so the working class, in its fight for a new society, needs to challenge the dominant outlook of its own oppressor, the capitalist class. Of course, the ruling classes, through their monopolistic control of the mass media, the press, school, university and pulpit, consciously justifie its system of exploitation as the most "natural form of society." The repressive state machine, with its "armed bodies of men," is simply insufficient to maintain the capitalist system. The dominant ideas and morality of bourgeois society serve as a vital defense of the material interests of the ruling class. Without this powerful ideology, the capitalist system just would not last for any length of time.
Marxism suggests three stages or concepts of law and lawlessness:
i) an expose' of rich and powerful and their crimes - this is acceptable but purely moral;
ii) a demonstration of crime and its connections with property - e.g. showing how theft accounts for a small amount of property crime compared with fraud yet theft is policed much more strenuously;
iii) what was intended to be a major concern for the next stage - crime and law. Law is seen as ideology, as a level in capitalism, as tied to the economic relations of capitalism - in a number of unclear methods which were to be cleared up later.
Marxist Theory: Dialectical & Historical Materialism, The Economic System, and Class Conflict Abstract Dialectical materialism and historical materialism form the foundation of Marxist philosophy. Grounded in the dialectical process of epistemology, Marxist theory evolved into principled sociology. Yet Marxist sociology rests on the dialectical understanding of the natural world, including that of human nature. Although Marxist philosophy is comprehensive and epistemological, Marx found its pragmatic application in focusing on the function of
Marxist Perspective for Understanding Society Although the United States and other Western nations fought a cold war against Communism for a significant part of the twentieth century, Western nations were not immune to the influence of Karl Marx, an intellectual and ideological founder of Communism. Even during the Cold War, Marxism entered disciplines in social sciences in the United States and students of sociology, history, political science, and a few
Gatsby Marx and the Great Gatsby In the 1920s, the United States was enjoyed a new and unprecedented period of industriousness and growth. Within this period, its advancement as a production society would seen one of its most torrid phases of expansion. But just as this time would prove the economic merits of capitalism, it would begin to demonstrate the considerable dangers that also accompany this system. This dichotomy is captured best
In the car Nick sees him look sideways as though lying and thinks "And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him, after all" (65, Chapter 4). Nick's middle class ideology leads him to scorn those who would strive to get ahead. It is the traditional view of the underclass toward upstarts from within. In the
Marxist Critique of Property Rights The Marxist Critique: Property Rights as Barriers to Freedom and the Case for Abolishing Private Property The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx in six weeks in 1848, and was first published as the platform of a workingmen's association that same year. This document, at first an integral part of a secret society, spread throughout Europe, beginning with Germany, France and England, but reaching as far as
Great Gatsby -- a Theoretical Analysis The Great Gatsby is one of the legendary novels written in the history of American literature. The novel intends to shed light on the failure of American dream that poor can attain whatever he wants and emphasizes on the hardships presented by the strong forces of social segregation. In order to understand this novel, there are various theories which tend to be helpful in order
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now