Cloward and Piven were two American sociologists who gained notoriety in the 1960s for their theory of political activism known as the “Cloward-Piven Strategy.” According to their theory, one could overload the welfare system and force change in government policies by encouraging as many people as possible to apply for benefits. The theory was controversial at the time and continues to be debated today, but it has recently resurfaced in discussions about the current border crisis.
At the heart of the border crisis is the issue of immigration, and the question of how to balance the needs of refugees and asylum seekers with the interests of the nation they are seeking to enter. The Cloward-Piven strategy, with its emphasis on overwhelming systems to bring about change, has been cited by some as a possible explanation for the recent surge in migration to the United States.
According to Cloward and Piven, the goal of political activists should be to create a crisis that forces change. They argued that by encouraging as many people as possible to apply for welfare benefits, it would be possible to overload the system and force the government to change its policies. This theory has been criticized by many who argue that it is unethical to intentionally cause harm to vulnerable people in order to achieve political goals.
In the context of the current border crisis, some have suggested that the surge in migration is the result of a deliberate effort to overwhelm the system and force the government to change its policies. While there is certainly evidence to suggest that factors such as poverty, violence, and political instability are driving people to seek refuge in the United States, it is difficult to say whether this is a deliberate strategy or simply a consequence of the complex geopolitical forces at play.
Critics of the Cloward-Piven strategy argue that it is an ineffective and harmful approach to political activism. By encouraging people to apply for benefits they may not be entitled to, the strategy can lead to a breakdown in the social safety net and harm those who are most in need. Moreover, by intentionally creating a crisis, activists risk alienating the very people they are trying to help.
Despite these criticisms, the Cloward-Piven strategy has remained influential in some circles of political activism, and it continues to be cited as a possible explanation for the current border crisis. Whether intentional or not, the surge in migration to the United States has certainly created a crisis, and it remains to be seen whether this crisis will lead to meaningful change in government policies. Since President Biden took office over 10 Million illegals have crossed into the United States. This will have consequences.