Democratic Work

This book proposes a radical transformation of labour institutions, in order to lay the foundation for the democratization of society rather than capitalist accumulation. Using an empirical analysis of the contemporary world of work, Alexis Cukier examines the democratic meaning of today's critique of work organization and questions the theoretical models (linked to class struggles and to industrial democracy) to conceive of a "democratic work." Considering particular historical experiments (such as cooperatives, self-management, worker's councils) that try to realize democracy at work, this book also analyzes the political issue of "democratic work" in relation to issues such as labour law, feminist struggles and political ecology. Ultimately, this book proposes some institutional paths that could overtake the divide between the rights of the citizens and the rights of the workers, arguing finally: if we really want to radicalize democracy, we should begin withdemocratizing work.

Reviews Marxist approaches to labor and politics of work in light of materialist feminism and political eocology Offers a comprehensive overview of worker's democracy experiments from the 20th to the 21st century Proposes a philosophical approach to work and democracy and puts forward proposals for democratic work

Autorentext

Alexis Cukier is Associate Professor in Moral and Political Philosophy, member of the research laboratory Métaphysique Allemande et Philosophie Pratique, University of Poitiers, France.

Inhalt
1.Introduction.- Part I: Democratic Criticism of Work.- 2. Chapter 1 : The Political Meaning of the Critique of Work.- 3.Chapter 2. Neoliberalism versus Democratic Work.- Part II: Theoretical Models and Political Issues.- 4.Chapter 3. The class struggle : revolutionising institutions to democratise labour.- 5.Chapter 4. Industrial democracy: democratising work to transform institutions.- 6.Chapter 5. Materialist feminism: the democratic stakes of the definition of work-for.- 7.Chapter 6. Political ecology : what kind of work does the critique of productivism lead to ?.- Part III: Work, democratic experiments.- 8.Chapter 7. Self-management: towards a revolution in the process, organisation and division of labour.- 9.Chapter. 8. Workers' councils and council democracy: towards a democratic transformation of the company, the State, and the municipality.- 10. Conclusion.