“Brimming with novel analyses and methodological strategies, this is one of the most significant efforts to rethink the study of collective action and political contention that we’ve had in many years. Krinsky presents both a compelling analysis of the rise of workfare as a neoliberal policy project and a fine-grained examination of the travails and partial successes of anti-WEP coalitions.”

Marc W. Steinberg, Smith College, author of Fighting Words

“Not only is workfare a critical frontier of neoliberal policy development, it has also been a zone of serial program failure, and a site of determined resistance. Free Labor presents an insightful analysis of a decade of concerted roll-backs and bitter struggles around the workfare offensive in New York City. But John Krinsky’s highly perceptive and creative book also does much more than this—helping visualize a politics of potential beyond workfare.”

Jamie Peck, University of Wisconsin–Madison, author of Workfare States

"Drawing on an ample array of official documents, media reports, interviews, and surveys, Krinsky has assembled an insightful history of a pivotal time. . . . A well-written, interdisciplinary analysis of urban political culture before 9/11/2001."

Choice