Globalisation and Labour: The New 'Great Transformation' - Softcover

Ronaldo Munck

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1842770713 ISBN 13: 9781842770719

Publisher: Zed Books, 2002

Synopsis

Intellectual fashion currently focuses on us as consumers, but the world of production and services still needs us as workers. While globalisation has, in part, been driven over the past two decades by the transnational corporations‘ search for cheap labour in new regions of the South, scholarly research and the mass media have paid remarkably little attention to the consequent changes that are happening in the world of work. This book is the first to deal comprehensively and analytically with labour‘s response to globalisation. It provides a critical overview of the main challenges facing workers and trade unions worldwide. Its author argues that what may be described as the national period in labour history is decisively over. Now the labour movement is itself acting increasingly in a transnational manner. This holds out the hope of its playing a major role in the social regulation of a global economic system which is largely out of control.

The author explains how globalisation is foisting flexibilisation and feminisation on working people, but in the process also making them conscious of their transnational links. The ‘old‘ internationalism of the trade union movement is now showing signs of developing into a ‘new‘ internationalism where workers develop a sense of common interest and new ways of organizing that transcend national boundaries. Drawing his evidence from what is happening to workers and trade unions in a wide range of countries in both the industrialized North and the developing South, Professor Ronaldo Munck suggests that we may be on the brink of a new version of what Karl Polanyi, many years ago, strikingly called ‘the great transformation‘. The implications for workers, trade unions and their transnational corporate employers could be profound.

About this title

Review:

'This book will be a basic reference work for the next decade. For labour organizers and educators, students and academics, it is going to be at the centre of debate on international labour and labour internationalism!' Peter Waterman, author of Globalization, Social Movements and the New Internationalisms 'Trade unions now have an existential question to answer: What is their role in the 21st century where national solutions no longer have meaning but an effective labour response to globalization still awaits theory, let alone practice? Ronaldo Munck's important new book is the best discussion yet of this major issue. There is only one important question in politics - how to make the world fair, democratic and peaceful. This book is a major contribution to answering that question and should be read by all who believe that working people should have some say over how the 21st century is shaped.' Denis MacShane, MP 'A truly global perspective on 'globalisation', combining sensitive critical discussion of competing theories with a wealth of information on trends in work and labour struggle around the world.' Richard Hyman, London School of Economics 'This is an important book. Ronaldo Munck has one core theme - the centrality of labour to the project of economic globalisation. Here under sharp focus are the key issues being faced by a global labour movement looking hard at its future.' Stuart Howard, Assistant General Secretary, International Transport Workers Federation

Synopsis:

Intellectual fashion likes to see us as consumers, but the world of production and services still needs workers. Globalization has been driven by the transnational corporations search for cheap labour, but little attention has been paid to the consequent changes in the world of work. Ronaldo Munck argues that the national period in labour history is decisively over. Now the labour movement is itself acting in a more transnational manner, with workers developing common interests and ways of organizing that transcend national boundaries. Indeed, the trade union movement could play a major role in the regulation of a global economic system now largely out of control. Munck suggests that we may be on the brink of what Karl Polanyi once called "the great transformation". The implications for workers, trade unions and their transnational corporate employers could be profound.

About this edition

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1842770713
• ISBN 13: 9781842770719
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240