Page 1: The Marxist Perspective on Crime and Social Class

The first page delves into the fundamental relationship between capitalism and crime from a Marxist viewpoint. The content explores how economic inequality shapes criminal behavior and law enforcement practices.

Example: The William Chambliss study in 1970s Seattle demonstrated how wealthy individuals used bribery and threats to conceal their criminal activities.

Definition: Differential enforcement of the law refers to how the ruling class can more easily avoid consequences for white-collar crimes compared to working-class offenders.

Highlight: Media coverage predominantly focuses on street crime while largely ignoring white-collar and corporate crimes, reflecting systemic bias.

Quote: "Marxist believe that naturally humans aren't very greedy - it is capitalism that makes us that way."

Vocabulary: Consumerism - The economic system that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.