Work after Fordism: Theorizing organizational diversity and dominant trends in contemporary capitalism

12 September 2011

Time: 12:30 - 5:30pm
Venue: Francis Bancroft Building, Room 408, Queen Mary, University of London

12-13 September 2011

Monday: 12.30 – 5.30pm
Tuesday: 09.30 – 4.00pm

Click here to download full schedule [PDF 13KB]
Free (advanced registration required as space is limited). A workshop with presentations by:

• Professor Benjamin Coriat (Université Paris XIII)
• Professor Rick Delbridge (University of Cardiff)
• Professor Ulrich Jürgens (University of Berlin)
• Professor Paul Thompson (University of Strathclyde)
• Professor Karel Williams (University of Manchester)
• Dr John Buchanan (University of Sydney)
• Dr Sarah Jenkins (University of Cardiff)
• Dr Marco Hauptmeier (University of Cardiff)
• Dr Giuliano Maielli (Queen Mary, University of London)
• Dr Matt Vidal (King’s College London)

From the 1950s to the early 1970s, the economies of Western Europe and the US were characterized by economic convergence rooted in a Fordist system of employment relations: A mass production based economy with strong unions, vertically-integrated corporations and clear career ladders (along with a Keynesian welfare state).

Since the 1970s these economies have seen deindustrialization, vertical disintegration and internationalization, leading to a growth in organisational diversity and disconnectedness.

This workshop asks:

Can the Post-Fordist framework explain increased organizational diversity, in the context of arguably dominant, regressive trends, whether towards work intensification or declining commitment by employers towards workers?
 
If not Post-Fordism, is there one or more alternatives for theorizing current trends as part and parcel of the current historical-institutional conjuncture?

Alternatively, how does the capitalist world look if we do without epochalism and grand narrative?

Please contact Ade Alele to reserve a place: a.alele@qmul.ac.uk