SOCIAL: CRIMINOLOGIST PERSPECTIVE ON MARXISIM

Marxism is a concept well known in Criminology. It originates from the philosopher Karl Marx who studied economy and class. Its proponents include concepts such as social class and capitalism. It explains that socialism or communism will overtake capitalism as the proletariat become frustrated with their perceived oppression by the bourgeoise. The state is the apparatus by which they interest to gain power. The state is where rules and regulations of society originate. This is essentially the source of power in any society. The state is the hegemon, the dominant power that exerts itself through the consent or coercion of the people. Consent is obtained via commissions. Coercion is gained by force. The state distributes good and services to its people.

The modes of production is how society distribute the means of production (land, machinery, etc.).  The bourgeoisie own the means of production and they use their wealth to be able to maintain the status quo within any economy. The working class or the proletariat sell their labor to the bourgeoisie in exchange for salaries. They will always receive less value than they produce as according to the writings of Karl Marx who further specified that this is the method that the bourgeoisie obtain their surplus. Marxism is considered a conflict theory wherein society is a conflict wherein different interest groups vie for power and oppose one another. It is contrasted from consensus theory that describes that the majority of people subscribe. This concept of Marxism is furthered by pluralism. Which specifies that the society consists of multiple groups wherein they join forces in order to oppose a social threat. It could be unions and the working class against the capitalist class and the production facilities. These parties all have different interest and they attempt to gain power of the state apparatus in order to fulfill their objectives. Societies norms, values and morals which shape these interest are a result of culture. The culture is created through social actions and socialization of the people. This is what is referred to as constructionism.