The clowardpiven strategy how barack obama is playing. Full text of cloward piven strategy ultimate collection. The key to sparking this rebellion would be to expose the inadequacy of the welfare state. Dissatisfied with the antonio gramsci style of cultural marxism, they sought a quicker and more explosive method of destruction that would cause america to collapse. Piven and cloward start by examining the enormous changes that the current administration has brought about in our social policies. The clowardpiven strategy is alive and well at the border. Last, the topics in this book vary from chapters on social unrest during the depression to the civil rights movement. Piven and cloward have updated their classic work on the history and function of welfare to cover the american welfare states massive erosion during the reagan, bush, and clinton years. In this book, frances fox piven and richard cloward propose an explanation why a new class war has been declared not only on the poor but on workers as well. The authors present a boldly comprehensive, brilliant new theory to explain. Frances fox piven is distinguished professor of political science, graduate school and university center, city university of new york. The clowardpiven strategy is a political strategy outlined in 1966 that called for overloading the u. Cloward piven s early promoters cited radical organizer saul alinsky as their inspiration.
The cloward piven strategy from first proposed in 1966 and named after columbia university sociologists richard andrew cloward and frances fox piven, the cloward piven strategy seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse. This book by frances fox piven and richard cloward came out over three decades ago. Simons book sold nearly a million copies and was widely used to. How the clowardpiven strategy is driving the united. In a 1966 article in nation, richard andrew cloward and frances fox piven, sociology professors at columbia university, wrote that capitalism should be collapsed by overloading the government with financial demands that could not be met. I read this book as an undergrad and my lasting impression is that it went on forever. Motor voter law 1993, clinton, cloward, piven, alinsky. Thats the basic theory behind one of the most controversial american political theories of the 20th century. Cloward was a social worker and sociologist, and was a faculty member at the columbia university school of social work from 1954 until his death in. Using a selfassessment tool known as the cloward piven strategy scorecard, you will develop a clear picture of which cloward piven. Many have discussed the meaning and intent of the piece, but what was it really, and would it have achieved their intended goals. Clowardpiven strategy the ultimate stepbystep guide blokdyk, gerardus on. Both books have left me with a completely new vision of american history and a totally different understanding of how social change happens and what kinds of victories average people can expect to win in this.
In 1982, partisans of the cloward piven strategy founded a new voting rights movement, which purported to take up the unfinished work of the voting rights act of 1965. A strategy to end poverty, advocating increased enrollment in social welfare programs in order to collapse that system and force. Make the enemy live up to their sic own book of rules, alinsky wrote in his 1971 book rules for radicals. Eight levels of control, saul alinsky, cloward piven strategy. The second is the 12 rules for implementation of this plan. Cloward and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The cloward piven strategy was published in the nation in 1966. Make the enemy live up to their sic own book of rules, alinsky wrote in his 1972 book rules for radicals. To achieve their revolutionary change, cloward and piven sought to use a cadre of aggressive organizers assisted by friendly newsmedia to force a redistribution of the nations wealth. His partner and wife, francis fox piven, serves as the honorary chairman of the democratic socialists of america. The breaking of the american social compact by frances fox piven, richard a. The authors present a boldly comprehensive, brilliant new theory to explain the comparative underdevelopment of the u. Miller, department of sociology, boston university. The authors begin with a synopsis of poor relief as a method of enforcing lowwage work during stable periods in european history and pre. The clowardpiven strategy, saul alinsky, and their. A political strategy outlined in 1966 by american sociologists and political activists richard cloward and frances fox piven that called for overloading the u. Cloward and piven were likewise the impetus for the motor voter law of. In their 1966 article, cloward and piven charged that the ruling classes used.
The cloward piven strategy was outlined in 1966 by political activists richard cloward and frances fox piven. It would be telling to know if obama, during his years at columbia, had occasion to meet cloward and study the cloward piven. They wrote an article titled the weight of the poor. By camila vergara 20072008 in their pessimistic and illuminating book poor peoples movements.
When pressed to honor every word of every law and statute, every judaeochristian moral tenet, and every. Remember the motor voter law passed by democrats and signed into law by bill clinton. Piven and cloward argue that the only real recourse the poor have. Regulating the poor by frances fox piven, richard cloward. Books by frances fox piven author of poor peoples movements. The book can be read by anyone because the authors give historical background on all topics. This cloward piven strategy allinclusive selfassessment enables you to be that person. As a resource on poverty and the welfare system, this book cant be beat. Hillary clinton did a college thesis on his writings and barack hussein obama writes about him in his books. Cloward and piven despised americas electoral system every bit as much as they despised. An extremely important book by two prominent academic experts on welfare and sometime welfarerights activists, which argues that the purpose of public relief has always been to maintain civic order and control the labor supply when market forces go askew. The clowardpiven strategy is a political strategy outlined in 1966 by american sociologists. Piven and cloward have updated their classic work on the history and function of welfare to cover.
This strategy is often attributed to alinsky and left wing websites like snopes have tried to discredit the plan by declaring it false because alinsky didnt actually write the 8 steps in his book. It may be interesting to see how their thesis stands up against the success we might argue, since the book s publication, of groups such as acorn and the industrial areas foundation in. Frances fox piven has 31 books on goodreads with 6670 ratings. But snopes conveniently fails to correctly attribute the work to cloward and piven. Is the clowardpiven strategy being used to destroy. There was a picture of lenin tacked on the wall, a shelf of books about. Yet, piven and cloward offer more historical background that would compliment tarrows newer theoretical work. This voter registration movement was spearheaded by the husband and wife team of frances fox piven and richard cloward in the early 1980s in response to the reagan administration. Everyone needs to be aware of what is going on in our country. The strategy was developed by richard cloward and frances fox piven, professors at columbia university in nyc. Regulating the poor the functions of public welfare. It may be interesting to see how their thesis stands up against the success we might argue, since the books publication, of groups such as acorn and the industrial areas foundation in.
I would suggest cloward piven strategy is being utilized i. Cloward are concerned with the strategies of poor peoples movements and their ability to change the social structure. Piven and cloward have updated their classic work on the history and function. Piven and cloward argue against creating formal institutions, suggesting that this path is antithetical to the militant, disruptive approach which they favour. The clowardpiven strategy was a blueprint for making massive disruptions in the welfare system of the united states, thus clearing the way. He was the author with his wife frances fox piven of the cloward piven strategy for revolutionary social change. Piven wrote several books that warned of a growing attack on the welfare state and drew. By frances fox piven and richard cloward by frances fox piven and richard cloward. Piven with her husband richard cloward at the motor voter signing ceremony 1993 frances fox piven born october 10, 1932 1 is an american professor of political science and sociology at the graduate center, city university of new york, where she has taught since 1982. Cloward and pivens marxistbased radicalism alive today the. The tactic of overwhelming the welfare structure requires the complicity of the government itself. In papers published in 1971 and 1977, cloward and piven argued that mass unrest in the united states, especially between 1964 and 1969, did lead to a massive expansion of welfare rolls, though not to the guaranteedincome program that they had hoped for. This 86yearold radical may save or sink the democrats the. The clowardpiven strategy is alive and well in the care of president obama who is superintending the chaos on the border.
Alexanders correct on this point every few weeks a new crisis. In the end, it is the federal government itself that is most vulnerable to the cloward piven strategy, and i believe the goal is to set fire to all social structures in the u. I would not expect everyone to agree with the authors contentions, but once having read this book, you will be challenged in your understanding of welfare policy. The next time you see thousands of illegal aliens massing at the border demanding to be allowed to enter, or marchers demanding more of your tax dollars to pay for their wants and needs or politicians insisting you owe it to others to pay for their necessities in life, remember these two words. The cloward piven strategy was born in the midst of the fiery and violent leftist protests of the 1960s, as the brainchild of two sociology professors from columbia university. Clowardpiven strategy the ultimate stepbystep guide. Cloward and piven, what was their infamous 1966 strategy. Frances fox piven s most popular book is nickel and dimed. In 1982, partisans of the clowardpiven strategy founded a new voting rights movement, which purported to take up the unfinished work of the voting rights act of 1965. In his 2006 book winning the race, political commentator john mcwhorter attributed the rise in the welfare state after the 1960s to the.
Francis fox piven and richard cloward are two columbia university sociologists from the 1960 and 1970s. In 1966, cloward and piven published their theories in the may issue of nation, in an article called the weight of the poor. Full text of cloward piven strategy ultimate collection see other formats frances fox piven frances fox piven bom october 10, 1932 1 is an american professor of political science and sociology at the graduate center, city university of new york, where she has taught since 1982. He reported that the strategy unfortunately created generations of black people for. The socialist test case for using societys poor and disadvantaged people as sacrificial shock troops, in accordance with the clowardpiven strategy, was demonstrated in 1975, when new. Cloward was a social worker and sociologist, and was a faculty member at the columbia university school of social work from 1954 until his death in 2001. Poor peoples movements by frances fox piven, richard. Political commentator james mcwhorter wrote in his 2006 book winning the race that the rise in the welfare state after the 1960s could be attributed to the cloward piven strategy. Frances fox piven, a professor and activist, with richard cloward, her. Regulating the poor is the second book by frances fox piven and richard cloward that ive read. This beautifully written book is the most exciting and important political study in years. Frances fox piven, distinguished professor of political science frances fox piven, richard a. Why they succeed, how they fail, frances fox piven and richard a. Featuring 682 new and updated casebased questions, organized into seven core areas of process design, this selfassessment will help you identify areas in which cloward piven.
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