Radical Theory

The following research paper will attempt to explain crime from the radical theory point of view. It will focus on communist and socialist writings from well-known authors such as Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels. Many of Karl Marx's theories are related to the study of crime, but Marx thought on a much larger scale. He was, in his life, a philosopher, social scientist, political propagandist, and revolutionist all in one.

Radical criminology is defined as a conflict perspective that sees crime as endangered by the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and other resources, which adherents believe is especially characteristic of capitalist societies. It places the blame for criminal behavior on the distribution of wealth and power in society. The radical and conflict theories are usually mixed up by most people, the main difference is early theories saw conflict as a natural part of any society and believe power struggles would always occur. An even earlier conflict theory can be found in the culture conflict theory of Thorsten Sellin, who was concerned with the clash of immigrant values and traditions with those of established American culture. Radical criminology said the struggle to control resources is central to society and it also said that the law itself is a tool of the powerful people. Radical criminology’s main focus however was capitalism and the evils brought on by capitalism.¹

Marx believed people should produce as much as thy could for their state or country and in return the state would provide them with their basic needs. The vast majority of the people would provide for the elite, as well as themselves and others. Marx referred to this as "surplus labor." Surplus labor causes some to benefit while others deteriorate. This also creates classes among the people (Callinicos 1989). It is clear that this would cause crime among different classes of people. One man's needs may be more than another's, and due to lack of adequate pay, a man who is hungry and poor will try to gain an advantage on another by reverting to theft, robbery, and may even go so far as to murder another human being. Eventually crime would possibly develop into riots and given time, it could turn into a total revolution. However, The Communist Manifesto does not argue this point that increased impoverishment leads workers to rise up and revolt.

In Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto, the wage theory was adopted. The wage theory was developed on the basis of the Malthusian theory of population and it under-estimated the importance of wage struggles and trade union organizations of the workers. It regarded these as “training schools” to prepare them for the political class struggle.² If a man had the means of production and could work for himself producing what he needed or what he could trade for what he needs, then a man could stop when he has everything he needs. If a man does not own the means of production and can not sell the product of his own labor then he must sell his labor power to someone who owns the means of production. Then he will be paid a wage. Marx makes it clear that the wage is paid not for the labor but for the labor power, the use of the worker for whatever amount of time. The wage that the worker is paid will be the wage necessary to keep the worker returning to the job the next day. While the wage for an individual worker can be just what is needed to keep the job position filled, the wage overall has to be enough that the working class can raise children to be the next generation of workers. ³

The problem with radical criminology is that is fails to recognize the role of human nature in the creation of the social classes and in the struggle for control of resources. It seems to also imply that such a system as communism would eliminate most of the crime.⁴ However, in any political system, people should always expect there will always be a little crime in some way, shape, or form.

1. Alex Callinicos. (1989) Marxist Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press. This book talks some about “Surplus Labor,” and the effects of it.

2. Franz Mehring. (1935) Karl Marx. Covici-Friede Publishers; New York. This book has Karl Marx life story along with his writings in it and an explanation of each.

This web site has the whole book Wage-Labor and Capital written by Karl Marx on it. It talks basically about wages, a persons labor and capital, just like the title says.

4. Brown, Esbensen, and Geis. Criminology: Explaining Crime and Its Context (2001). This book covers the topic of criminology in the justice field of study.

5. Gaines and Kappeler. Policing in America (2002). This book covers the topic of policing.

6. Karl Marx. Capital (1867). This book talks about commodities, money, surplus vales, capital, and wages.

7. Allen Buchanan. Marx and Justice (1982). Gives Marx’s evaluative perspective of justice and critiques his thoughts of justice and rights.

8. Karl Marx, Fredrich Engels. The German Ideology (1845). Has a section in the book about crime, it is a collaboration of letters in which Engels and Marx correspond with one another.

9. Criminal Justice Today (2001) Prentice Hall, Inc. A textbook which gives an overview of the general justice system and talks a little bit about everything.

Crime Statistics for Russia after the Soviet Break-up (Library of Congress Statistics)

? In 1995, there was 93,560 crimes, 18,500 were white-collar crimes and increase of 8.3 percent than that of 1994.

? Among the conventional crimes reported murder increased 1.5 percent, rape 6.5 percent, burglaries 6.6 percent, burglaries with violence involved 20.8 percent, and serious crimes involving teens 2.2 percent.

? The rate of crime solving in Russia rose from 57.7 percent to 64.9 percent, but that statistic was inflated by the success of solving minor crimes.

Car theft in Moscow and St. Petersburg rose dramatically, in Moscow an estimated 50 cars were stolen a day, a statistic which today continues to rise and be a problem in Russia’s major cities. The estimated yearly total of cars stolen however was between 100,000 and 150,000 cars.

? In the first quarter of 1994, Russia averaged 84 murders a day (many however mafia related which went unsolved).

As shown in this paper, the crime rates rose dramatically after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This suggests that the crime rate may be the price of freedom through competitive capitalism. Totalitarian governments can employ various harsh methods of crime control such as fear, torture, and extraordinary types of surveillance. Well known criminologists, Norval Morris and Gordon Hawkins, agreed that “The evidence is substantial that social, industrial, and commercial progress is accompanied by an increase in criminal activity. For as you expand the bound of human freedom and economic and social potential, you equally expand the bounds of potentiality for nonconformity and delinquency of crime. As legitimate opportunities increase so also do illegitimate opportunities.”⁶

There will always be crime in all societies. How a society deals with their criminals is a direct reflection of the people who make up that society. If it deals with criminals in a firm but humane manner then that society is just and honest according to that culture by which the rules of conduct are enforced. If on the other hand, a society deals with criminals by harsh or inhumane means, that also defines the people of that society. The system is merely the vehicle for human behavior. While there is much debate worldwide the death penalty, executions in free or capitalist countries like the United States literally takes decades before the condemned person's appeals process is exhausted. Each individual has the right to have his case heard before the highest court in the land. Totalitarian governments frequently carry out the execution on the same day as the sentence is handed down. Even the manner in which a person is put to death can reflect on that society. Lethal injection seems far more civilized that a pistol shot to the back of the head. There are no individuals in communism so individual effort is not rewarded. Capitalism calls for individuals to be optimistic and centers around a central theme, the ability to improve one’s life through his individual effort. Capitalism employs the same optimistic ideology to control crime. Through one’s individual effort he can improve society. Capitalist optimism comes together through religion to organize and perfect a system that will help set guidelines for personal and societal conduct. As conditions improve or worsen, free men and those enslaved by governments, move inside and outside society’s rules as necessary to protect their personal interest. For free society, it is much easier to enter criminal activity because of human rights. It is also harder to eliminate because of these same rights. Totalitarianism society does not have hindrances in their crime fighting, so justice or injustice is swift.

² Franz Mehring. (1935) Karl Marx. Covici-Friede Publishers; NewYork

³ Karl Marx. (1849) Wage-Labor and Capital.; http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm

⁴ Criminal Justice Today (2001) Prentice Hall, Inc.

⁶ Brown, Esbensen, and Geis. Criminology: Explaining Crime and Its Context (2001)

[Comments: A fairly good Intro, but remember to tie this paper into topics in two classes. You should easily find resources on Marxist thought for policing. I liked how you found a reference already. I get the impression you are long-winded, so turn your work in digitally from now on to cut down on the surplus labor of my typing.]
[I just cut and pasted what you turned in for Part 2 on disk]
[Comments: I tried to touch up your paper a bit from what was here before.]
[Comments: I added the two paragraphs you turned in, presumably for part 4. I think you're in good shape to touch it up a bit before I give your paper a final grade. You have curious text formatting, for example, and I would be glad to assist you with substantive ideas to improve the paper. References are also needed.]