The Missing Middle: Working Families and the Future of American Social Policy

by Theda Skocpol

An eye-opening look at how America’s social policy has been hijacked by a rhetoric of extremes. In the opening pages of this powerful examination of American politics, Theda Skocpol reveals a curious pattern: Our politicians argue over programs for the very poor or tax cuts for the very rich, and they worry over the precarious security of our longer-living grandparents and the educational neglect and corresponding bleak future of our children. But, with the spotlight on the youngest, the oldest, the richest, and the poorest, rarely do we find policies concerned with average working men and women of modest means, those the author terms the "missing middle." Skocpol draws us into the history of this disturbing trend and reveals the repercussions of the increasingly simplistic and moralistic stands being taken by our politicians. Taking lessons from the root causes of this shift, she presents a compelling case for family-oriented populism and identifies the bold reforms needed to revitalize American democracy.

Genres: Sociology

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Theda Skocpol is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University and the Director of the Scholars Strategy Network. She is a past president of the American Political Science Association.

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book despite the solid research was very annoying to read because of the sprinklings of liberal political rhetoric. I had to read it for class, otherwise I would have thrown it down in disgust after the first chapter. The author makes some good points and even has some good ideas to solving some of the problems of the working-class family, but it is couched in such disdain for conservatives, that I had a hard time seeing past that. She also never bothered to address the problems of outsourcing which is a big reason why the middle-classes are losing jobs and income in the first place.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book.