Erich Fromm: From Messianic Utopia to Critical Criminology

Abstract

This chapter explores Erich Fromm’s early works of the 1920–1930s, in particular, its ‘elective affinity’ with Jewish messianism. This chapter examines the links between Fromm’s work and the tradition of messianic Marxism from which it draws and outlines its significance for the development of a critical criminology. This chapter will go on to show not only how Fromm’s thought was characterised by a utopian dimension, but how this anti-authoritarian, almost anarchist orientation allowed Fromm to question the link between penal justice and criminality within class society.KeywordsCriminal Justice SystemCritical CriminologyFrankfurt SchoolClass SocietyEconomic EthicThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.