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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Criticisms Explains crime of all social classes. Explains a wide variety of offences. Explains the selective enforcement of the law.

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.