NYU Press Praxis for the Poor: Piven and Cloward and the Future of Social Science in Social Welfare

A compelling examination of the careers of Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven as well as Jane Addams demonstrates how politically-active scholarship can contribute to struggles for social justice. Review "This wonderfully lucid, well developed volume should perhaps have been called Suggested Praxis for the Poor, since, instead of describing the current state of welfare, the author argues for a revamped praxis that would rescue our failing programs....Highly recommended.-- "Library Journal" A significant achievement. This is a passionate critique that embodies the very politically-engaged scholarship for which it calls.--Nancy Campbell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute I recommend reading this book, and I applaud Schram's many accomplishments while I share his long-term commitments.-- "American Journal of Sociology" Praxis for the Poor offers a thought-provoking, even moving, challenge to progressive intellectuals. Engagingly written, it shines a bright light on issues of research, advocacy, and the doleful character of the country's system of social welfare.--Ira Katznelson, Columbia University Schram poses an important challenge for those who would like to restore to political science its sometime concern with power and inequality.-- "American Politics Book Review" About the Author Sanford F. Schram teaches social theory and social policy in the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College where he also teaches research methods for undergraduate political science majors. He is the author of several books including Words of Welfare: The Poverty of Social Science and the Social Science of Poverty which won the Michael Harrington Award from the American Political Science Association and Welfare Discipline: Discourse, Governance, and Globalization.