Gordon's criminogenic capitalism
Marxist criminologist Gordon argues that capitalism itself is criminogenic: it creates conditions that promote crime through inequality, competition, and commodification of all relationships.
Real World
The 2008 financial crash saw bankers at Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers pursue aggressive, high-risk strategies driven by competitive profit motives — mirroring the acquisitive logic Gordon describes, but through technically legal (and sometimes illegal) means that devastated millions.
Exam Focus
When applying Gordon, explicitly link capitalism's values (competition, individualism) to criminal behaviour — don't just say 'inequality causes crime'.
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