Sociological Perspectives on Labor Markets

"This book provides sociological perspectives for the analysis of labor markets in advanced capitalist societies. It makes use of the rich heritage of sociological thinking by drawing on the different approaches such as the classical work of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, structural-functionalist contributions from the 1950s and 1960s as well as more recent accounts. Various theoretical perspectives are outlined and a number of major concepts are discussed, elaborated and defined in connection with labor markets. The perspectives and concepts advocated in this book are related to actual developments in services, knowledge and globalization. They form the basis for criticizing the tendency among many analysts to exaggerate change in dealing with labor markets. In contrast to those authors who claim that we now face the end of industrialism, wage-work, the nation-state, standard employment, unions, class and collective action, it is argued that in analyzing contemporary developments, we must not neglect the more lasting features of labor markets but assign them a proper role."--BOOK JACKET.