Analysis of the relations between capital, labor and state in European countries and in Europe. The historical-sociological approach offers theoretical and methodological tools for the study of labor regulation and the role of collective actors. Involving students in empirical research on national and international databases, updates knowledge of countries “adopted” by students (countries they
are interested in) and compares countries with different models of labor regulation
Colin Crouch (1996) Relazioni industriali nella storia politica europea, Roma: Ediesse; ed. or. Colin Crouch (1993) Industrial Relations and European State Traditions, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Lucio Baccaro and Chris Howell (2017) Trajectories of Neoliberal Transformation. European Industrial Relations Since the 1970s, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Learning Objectives
The course offers theoretical and methodological tools for the comparative analysis
of the main models of labor regulation present within different European countries and at a supra national level, in particular at the European level.
From the theoretical and historical-sociological perspective, the course sets the models of labor regulation within the long-standing tradition of the institutional assets of different countries, and promote a good knowledge of the main interpretative approaches offered by the international literature in the field of Economic Sociology and Sociology of Labor. This knowledge refers in particular to the role played by the social collective actors representing capital, labor and the state, who are involved in labor regulation; to rational choice and game theory; to the characters of socio-economic and productive systems in which labor regulation is embedded. The competencies that students will acquire are related to the ability to find and use databases and documents offered by the main national and international institutions, to the comparative analysis, to the production of oral and written presentations.
Prerequisites
Previous knowledge in the field of Sociology of Labor is recommended
Teaching Methods
Lectures, individual research, presentations of individual research in the classroom and collective discussions
Further information
The attendance is essential to actively participate in research activities and benefit
of the opportunity to present a research paper instead of the oral examination on the institutional texts proposed
Type of Assessment
Students attending the Course are required to present an individual paper (about 20 pages) reporting the research conducted on the countries "adopted", with comparative analysis, and demonstrating the capacity to use theoretical tools proposed. An eventual oral discussion on the theoretical and methodological approach proposed by Colin Crouch can be required if the paper is not evaluated sufficient.
For non attending students: oral discussion on the texts proposed.
Course program
The first part introduces to the analysis of characters and main trends of labor regulation in different European countries, through an historical-methodological approach. The analysis focuses on the models of labor regulation, the role in this field played by social actors, the different national paths. Similarities and differences of national experiences in Western European countries are analyzed through the text of Colin Crouch “Industrial Relations and European State Traditions” (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993; Italian edition 1996). During this first part of the course, students can decide which country “adopt” in order to develop their individual research in the second and third part.
Methodology: Lectures and first students' presentations
Reference text: Colin Crouch, chapters I, II, III, IV, V
16 Sept. – Introduction and presentation of the methodology and the research proposed
17 Sept. – Organized actors and their strategies
19 Sept. – The thesis on which the historical-sociological approach of Colin Crouch is founded
23 Sept. – The theory of political exchange
24 Sept. – Two models of labor regulation: contestation and pluralistic bargaining
26 Sept. – Two models of labor regulation: authoritarian and bargained corporatism
30 Sept. – Introduction to historical-comparative analysis: the end of the XIX century
1 Oct. – Labor regulation between the two world wars (students' presentations)
3 Oct. – Labor regulation at mid XX century
7 Oct. – Evaluation of the first phase and organization of the research for the second phase
The comparative analysis of labor regulations’ models continues during the second part of the course, following the text of Colin Crouch and with the active participation of students, covering the XX century. Through the students’ presentations, the different models of labor regulation characterizing the various experiences of European countries will be discussed and interpreted. This part will also provide an in-depth analysis of the role labor regulation developed at supra national and European level.
Methodology: Students' presentations, lectures and training in computer lab
Reference text: Colin Crouch, chapters VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI; for those who want in-depth knowledge Franca Alacevich, "Promuovere il dialogo sociale. Le conseguenze dell'Europa sulla regolazione del lavoro" (Firenze: FUP, 2004), chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
8 Ott. – Between the two world wars (students' presentations)
10 Ott. – Labor regulation in the late XX century: two/three countries (students'
presentations)
14 Ott. – Factors influencing labor regulation’s models
15 Oct. – The influence of history in interests’ representation and economy
17 Oct. – The development of European regulation – from the Fifties to the European Employment Strategy 21 Oct. – From the European Employment Strategy to nowadays
22 Oct. – Recent trends: The enlargement of the EU and the new comers’ situation
24 Oct. – Recent trends: Toward a widespread neo-liberalism in the labor regulation?
28 Oct. – Students will “adopt” a second country between the new comers countries. The organization of the individual research
31 Oct. – How to do research. Training on the use of databases in the computer lab
The third part of the course provides a direct experience of research and analysis of labor regulation in the last decades (1996- 20129). To the countries previously considered will be added some others, late comers or new comers to the European Union. As before, each student will “adopt” one of these countries.
Methodology: Guided individual students' research with presentations of the results, lectures
Reference text: The research will be based on the following texts and documents (i) J. Arrowsmith and V. Pulignano (eds.), “The transformation of employment relations in Europe. Institutions and Outcomes in the Age of Globalization” (London: Routledge, 2013); (ii) L. Baccaro e C. Howell, “Trajectories of Neoliberal Transformation. European Industrial Relations Since the 1970s” (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017); (iii) integrated by databases and documents available in national and international websites, and mainly: Bank of Italy (especially the Annual Reports and other specific researches), European Commission (especially the Industrial relations in Europe Reports and the site of Social Dialogue), Eurobarometer, Eurostat, Eurofound (especially EIRO), ISTAT, OCDE (especially the Employment Outlooks and the Education at Glance Reports), ILO.
4 Nov. – Main trends of liberal and pluralistic models of labor regulation
5 Nov. – Main trends of neo corporatism
7 Nov. – Main trends of state driven and Mediterranean models of labor regulation
Week without lectures and classrooms
18 Nov. – Changes in labor and trade unionism (students' presentations)
19 Nov. – Changes of the capital and its representative associations (students' presentations)
21 Nov. – Changes in the role of the state (students' presentations)
25 Nov. – Wage regulation (students’ presentations)
26 Nov. – Collective bargaining coverage (students' presentations)
28 Nov. – NO CLASSROOM
2 Dec. – Company level participation (students' presentations)
3 Dec. – The regulation of working time (students' presentations)
5 Dec. – Effects of the European regulation (students' presentations)
9 Dec. – New themes of collective bargaining
10 Dec. – New patterns or labor-capital relations
12 Dec. – Evaluation of the research conducted and conclusions