Globalization Contested: An International Political Economy of WorkThis exciting book, available in paperback for the first time, provides an illuminating account of contemporary globalisation that is grounded in actual transformations in the areas of production and the workplace. It reveals the social and political contests that give 'global' its meaning, by examining the contested nature of globalisation as it is expressed in the restructuring of work.Rejecting conventional explanations of globalisation as a process that automatically leads to transformations in working lives, or as a project that is strategically designed to bring about lean and flexible forms of production, this book advances an understanding of the social practices that constitute global change. Through case studies that span from the labour flexibility debates in Britain and Germany, to the strategies and tactics of corporations and workers, the author examines how globalisation is interpreted and experienced in everyday life. Contestation, she argues, is about more than just direct protests and resistances. It has become a central feature of the practices that enable or confound global restructuring.This book offers students and scholars of international political economy, sociology and industrial relations an innovative framework for the analysis of globalisation and the restructuring of work. |
Contents
List of abbreviations | |
Introduction | 1 |
Globalisation restructuring and the flexibility discourse | 14 |
International political economy and global social change | 38 |
1 | 47 |
38 | 33 |
the restructuring of work in Britain 395 | 67 |
the restructuring of work in Germany | 93 |
Other editions - View all
Globalisation contested: An international political economy of work Louise Amoore Limited preview - 2013 |
Globalisation Contested: An International Political Economy of Work Louise Amoore No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
actors agency analysis argued bargaining become Bretton Woods System British capitalism central challenge chapter characterised competitive concept contemporary contested contingent convergence corporate corporatist critical defined deregulated distinctive dominant employers employment epistemology everyday example explore finance firms flexibilisation focus forces Fordist German German debate global political economy global restructuring global social change globalisation historical hyperflexibility identifiable individualisation industrial relations industrialisation institutions and practices International Political Economy interventions IPE inquiry IPE of social IPE scholars knowledge labour market lean production London MNCs neo-Gramscian neo-liberal OECD ontological orthodox IPE particular Polanyi's politics and economics problematic production programme of restructuring question realms relationships represent representation of globalisation restruc role social market economy social power relations social practices social relations society state-societies Strange Strange's strategies structures Susan Strange tensions Tony Blair trade unions transformation understandings University Press webs of power workers workplace