Roads to Post-Fordism: Labour Markets and Social Structures in Europe - Hardcover

Koch, Max

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0754643085 ISBN 13: 9780754643081

Publisher: Routledge, 2006

Synopsis

In this book Max Koch develops a theoretical model to understand the restructuring of labour markets and social structures of advanced capitalist countries on the basis of the 'regulation approach'. This approach is then applied to comparative analysis of the national trajectories of the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Against the background of the classical sociological theories of Marx and Weber, he examines whether there are general links between inclusion, exclusion and capitalism. This is followed by an outline of key concepts of the regulation approach and a discussion of the transition from Fordism to Post-Fordism which leads to empirically verifiable hypotheses about long-term trends in labour markets and social structures in Western Europe. These hypotheses serve as the theoretical basis for the subsequent country studies that are founded on an evaluation of international labour statistics.

About this title

About the Author:

Max Koch is a lecturer in Sociology in the School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies at the University of Ulster, where he is also a member of the European Studies Unit within the Research Institute of the Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages. He received both his PhD in Sociology and his Habilitation (second 'doctoral degree', prerequisite for German professorship) from the Freie Universität Berlin. As a postdoctoral researcher he worked, among other places, in Santiago de Chile, Lund, Madrid, and Rotterdam. He is involved in several research networks both at European and international level. He has published widely (including three single-authored books in German and numerous articles) in the areas of social theory, the sociology of development, labor market regulation, stratification and social exclusion.

Review:

'This book is unique because regulation theory has not, to date, been related to changes in social structure. Empirically, there are relatively few existing comparative texts on the deregulation and re-regulation of labour markets and welfare systems in Europe. Roads to Post-Fordism will be a valuable addition to reading lists in all courses which are looking for an up-to-date account of work, socio-economic regulation and social stratification.' Bernhard Glaeser, Social Science Research Centre, Germany 'Roads to Post-Fordism provides an excellent analysis of the links between inclusion, exclusion and capitalism. Based on a cogently argued theoretical foundation it presents comparative research into labour markets and social structures in five European countries: Germany, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. By demonstrating the value of theoretically informed comparative research into key issues in contemporary societies it will be of interest to readers across a wide range of disciplines, particularly sociology, political science and policy studies.' Julia S. O'Connor, University of Ulster, UK 'After the crisis of Fordism and the end of the social market economy regime there is a need for new balances between economic competitiveness and social cohesion in European countries. Against the broad presumption that neo-Fordism automatically goes hand in hand with neo-liberalism, Max Koch empirically and theoretically shows very well that there exist different modes of re-regulation of labour markets and welfare systems. This book is not only of interest to academics due to its profound empirical test of regulation theories, but is] politically important as well: there are alternatives to the] polarization of interests and social structures, which are economically competitive and more promising for a sustainable development of European Good Governance.' Jens S. Dangschat, Vienna University of Technology, Austria '...the book bridges an important gap in research on post-fordism in at least two respects. First, it analyzes the varying expressions of Fordism in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom and empirically shows that there can be successful alternatives to neo-liberal post-fordist restructuring. Second, it applies the regulation approach...to a comparative analysis in social structure and labour market regimes.' Journal of Social Policy 'This book is a valuable contribution to the debates on whether any post-Fordist growth model has materialized...The book's merits lie in its comparative empirical presentation of the changing labour markets and welfare systems in Western Europe, and in its suggestion of different strategies of transition to post-Fordism that lead to respective changes in social structure.' International Sociology Review of Books '...Roads to Post-Fordism is well researched, meticulously documented, and historically detailed...a "good read" for anyone seeking to understand more about the five Western European countries that are examined.' Critical Social Policy '...Koch makes a useful empirical contribution to our understanding of the ongoing transformations within and between the advanced capitalist states of western Europe in the post-Fordist era...' Capital and Class '...the book challenges simplistic conceptions, which is a breath of fresh air for the reader. It is remarkable how Koch describes the specific social patterns of each country in terms of its occupational and social structure, its economic and welfare systems or its reform policies. One of the greatest achievements of the book is the empirical data, however: the backup statistics are really impressive. being detailed and well explained. Hopefully this marriage between regulation theory and sociology will keep on providing excellent works like this one, stimulating research on topics that may lead to more balanced and equal societies in the future. It is books like Roads to Post-Fordism that make one feel that such a path exists.' British Journal of Industrial Relations

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0754643085
• ISBN 13: 9780754643081
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 210