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While the initial chapters of Piven and Cloward’s (1978) book aimed at explanation of movements’ structure and the specific features of the American protests of the unemployed, the consecutive sections cover more particularities related to poor people’s movements. The fourth and fifth chapters of the reading discuss the reasons, mechanics, and the manifestations of the civil rights movement and the welfare rights movement in the USA. The main argument of the two final chapters of Piven and Cloward’s (1978) book is that all the events in economic and social spheres impact the political realm due to the relations of cause and consequence between the historical events. As it is seen from the final chapters of the reading, the economic modernization produced the need for the civil rights movement of African Americans in the South that consequently changed the political agenda and incepted consecutive welfare rights movements. All these protests contributed to the political agenda and the formation of a democratic society.
Within the framework presented by the authors, the opioid crisis among the military, in general, and veterans, in particular, is a consequence of other social and economic events. The burden of combat experiences and reintegration into civilian life become a basis for veterans’ political claims. Ultimately, the crisis becomes prevalent, overdose-related mortality rates increase, and people feel the need to communicate their needs to the authorities.
This week’s reading is logically connected with the articles concerning pluralism in the political process. Similarly to the statements made in Dahl (2005) about the importance of inclusive citizenship and the freedom of expression in the democratic society, Piven and Cloward (1978) raise the issues of the necessity of all population groups’ opinions on the policies in a state. Indeed, while the unemployed, the poor, or the minority ethnic groups are underrepresented in the authoritative circles, they need to force governments to recognize their needs and include their problems on the agenda.
In accord with the claims articulated in the previous chapters, the idea of historical events producing opportunities for protest movements is relevant in the fourth chapter. The rapid shift in the economic sphere under the influence of industrialization, the feudal system disrupted and gave way to “political modernization in the South” (Piven & Cloward, 1978, p. 182). It proves their introductory statement that people do not create movements; they can only timely react to the changes in history and use them to make a change. As the authors present the turn of events after World War II, they refer to the improvement of white workers’ conditions, economic increase, and better opportunities for the lower class. All these issues contributed to blacks’ understanding of their underprivileged position, thus encouraging them to attract the government’s attention to the problems in the civil rights of African Americans in the South.
Moreover, the role of the civil rights movement in the history of the USA was vital. Being a mediator between the economic modernization and the political stabilization, it altered the national electoral system (Piven & Cloward, 1978). Due to the success of the civil rights movement that took place in the 1960s, the Democratic Party managed to reconstruct the policies concerning inequality in the USA. Now that the black population could vote, their opinions were officially taken into consideration by the primary decision-makers.
The fifth chapter of the book is devoted to the welfare rights movement. The authors connect the issues covered in this chapter to the civil rights movement that became a cornerstone for all the following changes in the political life of the country. The gains of the previous protests in the South encouraged the lower class whose life was adversely marked by the economic changes to claim their welfare rights (Piven & Cloward, 1978). The reason why the civil rights movement produced such influential results is that it was an authentic riot that was “neither led nor organized” (Piven & Cloward, 1978, p. 265). Consequently, the relief movement aimed at eliminating poverty was a logical continuation of the civil rights movement and ultimately shaped the politics of the USA.
Reference
Piven, F. F., & Cloward, R. A. (1978). Poor people’s movements: Why they succeed, how they fail. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
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