Suchergebnisse

What kind of initial problematic arose for Marx is examined through analysis of two articles he wrote in the Rheinische Zeitung (1842-43) -- "Proceedings of the Sixth Rhenish Diet. Debates on the Law of the Thefts of Wood," & "Vindication of Correspondent writing from the Mosel" (Marx, K., Engels, F., Werke, Berlin, 1956, 1, 109-147, 172-199). The place of this problematic in Marx's intellectual career is indicated. The problem of poverty in particular & the idea that Marx's treatment of it owes little enough to Hegel or Feuerbach in either formation or method are analyzed. The suppositions that Marx set out from a problematic at once empirically grounded & rooted in the practical, sociopolitical issues of the day, that he worked out his own concepts & methods by bringing empirical inquiry, theoretical analysis, & value premises to bear on one another, "from the first" are advanced. His turn to Hegel or Feuerbach for ideas is explained as his search for means by which to achieve a more sharply systematic formulation of problems that arose for him out of his initial sociopolitical problematic. The Marxian project as a whole is explained as an attempt from the first to found an empirically grounded & practical science of society rather than a speculative inversion of a ready-made philosophical world view. G. Briskin.

A wealth of solutions to poverty have been proposed, with little understanding of the forces required to turn a sound idea into an "implementable" program. A system approach is suggested to overcome this deficiency. This implies analyzing the effects of antipoverty measures on other elements of a society & a polity & the "feedback" effects of changes in these other elements on the new programs which are being introduced. Such an approach is seen as overcoming the limitations of fragmented views of the issue--such as the purely econ one--as well as the lack of systematic analysis of a program's costs, benefits, sources of funds, & nonfinancial resources. Consequently, a challenge is also offered to those who formulate programs without taking into account dominant values (eg, questions of consensus) & other pol'al considerations (eg, which groups would benefit or suffer from the program). This is seen as leading to undemocratic action or, most frequently, to inaction due to resistance. The article concludes with a brief review of the recent Nixon-Moynihan proposal in terms of the "societal-system-approach" here advocated, & adds a cautionary note on the limits of planning. HA.

The attempt to grapple with poverty during the 1960's led to renewed recognition of the importance of inequality in affluent societies. This paper summarizes trends in the share of nat'l income going to the bottom fifth of the pop, ranked according to income, & in the composition of that bottom fifth over the last 20 yrs. Between 1947 & 1967, despite the decline in the share of total nat'l income going to the top 5%, little progress was made in increasing the share of the bottom 20%. A specific timetable of income-redistribution is needed for the 1970's so that we can assess our programs in increasing the share of nat'l goods going to the poor & to minorities. Over the next 10 yrs, we should seek to expand the share of income going to fam's in the bottom 20% of the pop by at least 2 to 3% - from 5.4% in 1967 to 7 or 8% in 1977. In the mid-1960's considerable progress was made in reducing inequality between blacks & whites: the ratio of nonwhite to white income increased from 53% in 1963 to 62% in 1967 - an increase of approximately 2.25% a yr. This gain should continue, so that by 1979, a black income would be at least 89% of white income. Modified HA.

THE PRECONDITIONS OF POLICY MAKING ARE A CONCERN ABOUT SOME SITUATION PERCIEVED AS IMPORTANT AND THE CONCEIVED POSSIBILITY THAT HUMAN ACTION COULD MAKE IT BETTER. PERCEPTIONS OF THE SITUATION AND ACTIONS SEEN AS AVAILABLE VARY WITH THE SOCIETY INVOLVED AND CHANGE WITH TIME. THIS THEME IS ILLUSTRATED BY A SUMMARY OF BRITISH RESPONSE TO POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

This is a response to the recent critique of my book The Mexican Revolution: Federal Expenditure and Social Change Since 1910, 2nd ed. (Berkeley, 1970) by Felix G. Boni and Mitchell A. Seligson. Their factor analysis of my data on poverty suggests, first, that their methodology is more "sensitive" than mine; second, that they have confirmed the thrust of an earlier analysis by Thomas E. Skidmore and Peter H. Smith; and third, that the task of quantitative history is to reduce data of "unwieldy proportions" so that it is subject to greater understanding.

Abstract. This investigation of American Indian underdevelopment is based on historical data on the Cherokee people which demonstrate how a self‐sufficient people have been reduced to their present state of poverty and welfare dependence. Colonialism and the imposition of White control over Native institutions undermined the Cherokees' ability to innovate effectively. This hypothesis is substantiated by similar experiences of other tribes, as well as those of different indigenous groups, such as Alaska Natives, who have been more successful in preserving their traditional cultures.

The preconditions of policy making become relevant when a situation, actual or hypothetical, is perceived as important, & subject to improvement by human action. Perceptions of the situation, its origins, & possibilities for acting on it vary immensely with the culture of the society & with time. This is illustrated by a brief summary of British political & cultural responses to poverty & unemployment in the last 100 years. Modified HA.

ABSTRACTThe preconditions of policy making are a concern in a human mind about some situation, actual or hypothetical, which is perceived as important and the conceived possibility that human action could make it better. Perceptions of the situation and of its origins and of the scope if any for acting on it and the actions conceived as available vary immensely with the culture of the society involved; and they change with time. This theme is illustrated by a brief summary of British political and cultural responses to poverty and to unemployment in the last hundred years.