Richard A. Cloward (1926–2001) was an American sociologist and criminologist best known for his work on social structure, deviance, and social policy. A long-time professor at Columbia University, Cloward collaborated with Lloyd Ohlin to develop Differential Opportunity Theory and was active in anti-poverty movements, co-founding the National Welfare Rights Organization.
Cloward’s contributions to criminology center on the relationship between social inequality, blocked opportunities, and criminal behavior. Together with Ohlin, he argued that access to illegitimate means of achieving success is unevenly distributed, shaping distinct deviant subcultures. His work also bridged academic theory and activism, influencing welfare policy debates in the U.S.
