SOCI-225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Structural Marxism, Marxism, Bourgeoisie
15 May 2018
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Class #7 – Ch. 11 – May 10, 2018
Conflict Theories:
Cultural Conflict Theory: Theory that explains certain types of criminal behaviour resulting from
conflict between the conduct norms of divergent cultural groups.
- Occurs when individuals acting on the conduct norms of their own group are in violation of
the conduct norms of the dominant group has enacted into law. (Immigration, colonization,
and migration)
Group Conflict: Theory that attempts to explain certain types of criminal behaviour resulting from
a conflict between the interests of divergent groups. (PETA, Clubbing seals)
- Interest groups or social groupings attempt to protect their own interests by influencing the
creation and enforcement of the criminal law. (People against fracking)
- Helpful in explaining interest groups who are vying for power and who they appeal to.
(Wanting voters during an electoral campaign, US)
Karl Marx Marxism and Marxist Theory ’s
Crime must be analyzed in the context of its relationship to the character of the society as a whole.
Views conflict as rooted in the very structure of capitalist society, and capitalist economic relations.
Focuses on the way society is organized:
a. Political
b. Legal
c. Economic structure
Bourgeoisie VS the Proletariat.
Instrumental Marxism: (Puppet)
The state is viewed as the direct instrument of the ruling or capitalist class. Instrumentalism is
based on the notion that the processes are determined by the economic base. The state and the
legal system are instruments that can be directly manipulated by the capitalist class. The capitalist
class can directly influence existing law and the formation of new law. More money, more power.
Capitalism →Government. Capitalism (Puppeteer) – Government (Puppet) (Symbiotic)
Those who occupy powerful positions in the state are either capitalists or strongly identify with
the interest of the capitalist class. Assumes that the ruling class is unified and largely homogenous
ignoring factors that may exist within the capitalist class itself.
Structural Marxism: The state is viewed as acting in the long-term interest of capitalism rather
than in the short-term interests of the capitalist class. Structuralism rejects the belief that law is an
instrument of the capitalist class. Not being told what to do by the capitalist class.
Relative Autonomy: (Not completely distancing yourself) Term used in structural Marxist
perspective to indicate that the state has a certain amount of independence from the capitalist class
and enact laws that are not in the interest of the capitalist class. (AISH, Welfare, etc)
Patriarchy: Male domination and control whereby the structure of our society privileges men over
women. It stresses the systematic nature of the oppression of women. Oppresses women, The
Madonna vs The Whore.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Cultural conflict theory: theory that explains certain types of criminal behaviour resulting from conflict between the conduct norms of divergent cultural groups. Occurs when individuals acting on the conduct norms of their own group are in violation of the conduct norms of the dominant group has enacted into law. (immigration, colonization, and migration) Group conflict: theory that attempts to explain certain types of criminal behaviour resulting from a conflict between the interests of divergent groups. (peta, clubbing seals) Interest groups or social groupings attempt to protect their own interests by influencing the creation and enforcement of the criminal law. (people against fracking) Helpful in explaining interest groups who are vying for power and who they appeal to. (wanting voters during an electoral campaign, us) Crime must be analyzed in the context of its relationship to the character of the society as a whole. Views conflict as rooted in the very structure of capitalist society, and capitalist economic relations.
