New Class War

by Frances Fox Piven, Richard A. Cloward

A critical look at the Reagan Administration's economic policies examines the background of the welfare system and suggests what results these new policies will have

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

163 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Frances Fox Piven is an American professor of political science and sociology at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, where she has taught since 1982. Piven is known equally for her contributions to social theory and for her social activism.

Reviews

[Ainsley Jeffery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but somewhat repetitive. Themes of frictional and mass unemployment; Marx and relation to class war divide of proletariat, interesting ties to emerging and current themes of the 80’s under Keynes, Friedman, Marx, Phillips curve, etc etc. I enjoyed the beginning chapters regarding the breakdown of relationship of inflation and unemployment impacted by labour movements and wage levels and the Doctrine of Separation and ties between economic rights vs political rights notes . Didn’t enjoy the end chapters as that’s where it felt repetitive, except for end notes added in 19&4. Definitely interested reading more of Lipset’s studies into public polling based on propaganda tactics in 1981 & 1984.

Mostly spoke on how welfare state infringed on dynamic of labour market and power of workers - « We often take domination for granted and think it is the resistance to domination that must be explained »