The Breaking of the American Social Compact is a landmark volume from two of our most perceptive social critics. Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward address the tumultuous politics of the past three decades that have culminated in an all-out assault on the American social compact. Delving into the political dynamics behind the rise of the working class in the 1930s and 1960s, Piven and Cloward assign singular importance to disruptive protest and examine the ways protest has dwindled since the 1960s and how many reforms gained then have been swept away. They cover the dramatic changes of recent years, from the breakup of the traditional Democratic Party, to the new power struggles between blacks and whites in northern cities, to the increasing demonization of immigrants and the poor everywhere. Finally, they examine the politics underlying governmental "reform," arguing that the recent devolution of federal authority is simply a strategy to increase the influence of business.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Piven and Cloward are academics (at City University of New York and Columbia University, respectively) and the well-known authors of Regulating the Poor (LJ 6/1/71). Of the 21 essays offered here, three on globalization and labor and one on "contemporary poor relief" are particularly interesting. The former refute the "economic determinism" of global economic changes, examining the role of special interest groups in the United States and comparing changes in unions, welfare programs, and income gap with other Western democracies. The latter essay discusses the economic interplay of labor and welfare. All the selections reflect a more leftist point of view than is commonly heard in the current debate. Although it is unclear where many were previously published, at least four are reprinted from journals widely held in academic libraries. This stimulating volume by two highly respected authors is a worthwhile addition for most academic libraries.?Mary Jane Brustman, SUNY at Albany Libs.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward are national treasures. Their brilliance, creativity, radical honesty, and social commitment come across in every page. -- Marcus Raskin, Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
In the face of the current assault on welfare, [Piven and Cloward] stand their ground... in these thoughtful essays. -- Booklist
Scholarly yet accessible.... Don't miss it! -- Katha Pollitt
[A] thought-provoking antidote to currently popular theories of public policy. -- Publishers Weekly
In the face of the current assault on welfare, [Piven and Cloward] stand their ground... in these thoughtful essays. -- Booklist
Scholarly yet accessible.... Don't miss it! -- Katha Pollitt
[A] thought-provoking antidote to currently popular theories of public policy. -- Publishers Weekly
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Frances Fox Piven is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and the author of the bestselling Poor People's Movements, Regulating the Poor, and Why Americans Don't Vote (with the late
Richard A. Cloward), as well as The War At Home, Keeping Down the Black Vote, and many other books. She lives in New York City.
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and the author of the bestselling Poor People's Movements, Regulating the Poor, and Why Americans Don't Vote (with the late
Richard A. Cloward), as well as The War At Home, Keeping Down the Black Vote, and many other books. She lives in New York City.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Falling deeper into the political rabbit hole.,
By
This review is from: The Breaking of the American Social Compact (Paperback)
Great book discussing the effects of globalization upon the working class in American society. Piven and Cloward effectively discuss the weakening of the working class, the disproportional influence of businesses, corporations, and other capital-holders upon the governing process, the attack upon welfare relief programs, the impacts of poor people's political movements. Piven and Cloward assert that the business class is weakening the civil rights and attacking the relief programs that protect the poor by fueling popular myths about such recipients.
2 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
unbelievibly crazy.,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Breaking of the American Social Compact (Hardcover)
I can't believe how some people actually believe this stuff. This is not for Americans. It's for socialists. Lord help us all!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
