Comparative Political Economy Of Work

An edited book in the Critical Perspectives on Work and Employment series associated with the annual International Labour Process Conference. The book focuses on comparative work and employment relations research conducted within a broader political economy framework. Written by leading academics, it contains cutting-edge research.

Brass, who has taught social and political science at Cambridge, argues that the incidence of bonded labor is on the rise and that it is beneficial neither economically nor culturally to the unfree worker. The book begins with detailed examinations of Brass' fieldwork data collected in Peru and India from 1974 to 1990. Brass then examines and attempts to disprove other debates over bonded labor, from the neo-classical economics which suggest that bondage is an economically empowering form of guaranteed work, to arguments stating that although not economically empowering, this type of relationship can empower the unfree laborer to claim cultural assertiveness or even to initiate resistance movements, thus ultimately leading to free labor. Distributed by ISBS. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This is a book about how 21st-century capitalism really works. Modern economics strips away social, historical, and political context from analysis of 'the economic', but the economy is far too important to leave exclusively to the economists. Comparative Political Economy (CPE) is a much broader, richer intellectual undertaking which 're-embeds' the analysis of the economic within the social and political realm. This is at the heart of how to think like a political economist. This text maps the terrain and evolution of CPE, providing the analytical tools to explore the many variants of capitalism, unearthing their roots in competing visions of the desirable distribution of the fruits of growth. Connecting CPE systematically to the subfield of International Political Economy (IPE), the book explains how these visions generate ongoing political struggles over how to regulate and manage capitalism. This is the perfect introduction to the field for all students of CPE and IPE. New to this Edition: - Fully revised and updated throughout to take into account the latest empirical and theoretical developments in this fast-moving field - A brand New chapter on the political economy of inequality, populism, Trump & Brexit - New expanded 'how to use this book' aimed at student readers - More coverage of the types of economies covered, to move from an exclusively Western focus to cover developing and emerging global economies

"Employment Relations" is widely taught in business schools around the world. Increasingly however more emphasis is being placed on the comparative and international dimensions of the relations between employers and workers. It is becoming ever more important to comprehend today’s work and employment issues alongside a knowledge of the dynamics between global financial and product markets, global production chains, national and international employment actors and institutions and the ways in which these relationships play out in different national contexts. This textbook is the first to present a cross-section of country studies, including all four BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China alongside integrative thematic chapters covering all the important topics needed to excel in this field. The textbook also benefits from the editors' and contributors' experience as leading scholars in Employment Relations. The book is an ideal resource for students on advanced undergraduate and postgraduate comparative programmes across areas such as Employment Relations, Human Resource Management, Political Economy, Labour Politics, Industrial and Economic Sociology, Regulation and Social Policy.

This book illustrates the enduring relevance and vitality of the comparative political economy of development approach promoted among others by a group of social scientists in Oxford in the 1980s and 1990s. Contributors demonstrate the viability of this approach as researchers and academics become more convinced of the inadequacies of orthodox approaches to the understanding of development. Detailed case material obtained from comparative field research in Africa and South Asia informs analyses of exploitation in agriculture; the dynamics of rural poverty; seasonality; the non farm economy; class formation; labour and unfreedom; the gendering of the labour force; small scale production and contract farming; social networks in industrial clusters; stigma and discrimination in the rural and urban economy and its politics. Reasoned policy suggestions are made and an analysis of the comparative political economy of development approach is applied to the situation of Africa and South Asia. Aptly presenting the relation between theory and empirical material in a dynamic and interactive way, the book offers meaningful and powerful explanations of what is happening in the continent of Africa and the sub-continent of South Asia today. It will be of interest to researchers in the fields of development studies, rural sociology, political economy, policy and practice of development and Indian and African studies.

"Comparative Inquiry in Politics and Political Economy provides all the essentials for a superb introductory text in comparative politics; comprehensive in scope; historical in approach; and fair-minded in its treatment of liberal, conservative, and radical perspectives. The best single survey of the field available today for classroom use." -James Petras, SUNY-Binghamton "The student of comparative political inquiry now has a safe map to guide their way. Ronald Chilcote has produced a fine overview of the theories and politics of this field, equally attentive to mainstream and radical alternatives alike. With a balance that does not preclude passion, Chilcote provides a unique critical engagement with the subject of comparative politics and political economy." —Ronaldo Munck, University of Liverpool "Prof. Chilcote has made a magisterial contribution to the social sciences. This book situates comparative politics and international relations within the context of the development of social and economic thought over the past two hundred years. It is an excellent resource for introducing upper division students to advanced ideas in the social sciences, or for graduate students seeking a secure foundation in the intellectual development of the field. Prof. Chilcote's attention to a wide range of ideological and theoretical tendencies in the social sciences makes this book vastly more comprehensive than the syllabi of many graduate level survey courses." -Gregory Nowell, SUNY-Albany "In this sweeping intellectual history of comparative politics and political economy, Chilcote resolutely refuses to take for granted the assumptions of the Euro-American mainstream. Instead, his refreshing survey juxtaposes the dominant approaches systematically to Marxist and other alternative paradigms. Clear and direct exposition makes this a valuable text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students." —Richard Stahler-Sholk, Eastern Michigan University As an introductory text in comparative study, this work begins with the assumption that students should examine a variety of perspectives and explore alternative possibilities as a means of arousing curiosity, stimulating creativity, building interest and self-motivation, and enhancing understanding of complex issues in politics and political economy. The book provides the student with the foundations for comparative inquiry. Its purpose is threefold: to sketch an overview of the major theories and concepts; to expose issues and summarize arguments and counter-arguments; and to encourage the beginning student to pursue critical thinking in the recognition that mainstream ideas deserve scrutiny, that many essential questions remain unsettled, and that the outcome may result in the formulation and reinforcement of a personal perspective, premised on one's individual learning.

'Besides a well-written introduction by the two editors, the book presents seventeen other chapters, some by well-known writers on the subject or related social sciences. . . This is a substantial resource book for scholars and students of comparative ER, especially for those who look towards the evolution of ER in the new economic world that is in formation, and in a comparative perspective. . . the book contains intellectually stimulating analyses of employee relations realities across the globe. . . Scholars belonging to different disciplinary perspectives, from which ER has been studied in the past, will also find in it a good reference material of comparative analyses. . . The publishers too deserve accolades for their professionalism and first rate copy-editing and production.' – Debi S. Saini, Vision – the Journal of Business Perspectives 'The book is a comprehensive volume of studies on employment relations in a wide variety of settings. . .an enriching compendium.' – Silvia Florea, Management of Sustainable Development The Research Handbook of Comparative Employment Relations is an essential resource for those seeking to understand contemporary developments in the world of work, and the way in which employment relations systems are evolving around the world. Special consideration is given to the impact of globalisation and the role of multinational corporations, including their consequences for the fate of workers' rights under existing national systems of employment relations (ER) regulation. This Handbook is unique in taking an explicitly comparative approach by discussing ER developments through a series of paired country comparisons. These chapters include a wide selection of countries from all regions, looking beyond those that are frequently discussed. The expert contributors also examine comparative issues from a range of perspectives, including industrial and employment relations, political economy, comparative politics, and cross-cultural studies. These impressive features make this important reference tool the most comprehensive of its kind. Academics and students in final-year undergraduate and postgraduate courses interested in employment relations will find this compendium enriching and insightful.

Drawing together leading scholars, the book provides a revealing new map of the US political economy in cross-national perspective.