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Fall 2003
Tuesdays, 9-12 am
Location: Room 7 Sparks Building
Class Limit: 20
Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to examine changing patterns of work and employment in a global context, and the implications for inequality and economic opportunity. Globalization and the rapid development of an information economy are leading to rapid and fundamental changes in the nature of work and employment. These processes, however, are fundamentally shaped by the social organization of work and the institutions which regulate the relationships between employers and employees, which vary tremendously depending on the geographic context. Through a detailed comparison of labor restructuring processes in the U.S. and South Africa, this course will help students understand and analyze the contested nature of work organization, the ways in which industrial relations are socially regulated, and how both global and local factors shape work and employment in the contemporary economy.
Mode of Instruction:
The course is run in collaboration with South African faculty and students in the Dept. of Sociology at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Regular video-conferences will allow for detailed discussions on the similarities and differences of work restructuring in both the U.S. and South Africa, and how process in these specific contexts relate to broader patterns. The course itself consists of three parts. Part One focuses on general theoretical issues in the world of work and the major changes that have taken place in the process of globalization and the development of an information economy. Part Two consists of a series of case studies, examining specific work sites in both the U.S. and South Africa, that explore the broader theoretical themes in a specific context. Part Three examines the response of workers and labor organizations at a local, regional and global context, from both a U.S. and South African perspective. The course itself will consist primarily of group discussions, with a minimum of lecture.
Typical Readings: A variety of relevant articles and book chapters will form the basis of class discussions.
Work Requirements: A single, semester-long research project, along with a series of short papers discussing the weekly reading material.