Solidarity in Strategy : Making Business Meaningful in American Trade Associations

Popular conceptions hold that capitalism is driven almost entirely by the pursuit of profit and self-interest. Challenging that assumption, this major new study of American business associations shows how market and non-market relations are actually profoundly entwined at the heart of capitalism. In __Solidarity in Strategy__, Lyn Spillman draws on rich documentary archives and a comprehensive data set of more than four thousand trade associations from diverse and obscure corners of commercial life to reveal a busy and often surprising arena of American economic activity. From the Intelligent Transportation Society to the American Gem Trade Association, Spillman explains how business associations are more collegial than cutthroat, and how they make capitalist action meaningful not only by developing shared ideas about collective interests but also by articulating a disinterested solidarity that transcends those interests. Deeply grounded in both economic and cultural sociology, __Solidarity in Strategy__ provides rich, lively, and often surprising insights into the world of business, and leads us to question some of our most fundamental assumptions about economic life and how cultural context influences economic. Popular Conceptions Hold That Capitalism Is Driven Almost Entirely By The Pursuit Of Profit And Self-interest. Challenging That Assumption, This Major New Study Of American Business Associations Shows How Market And Non-market Relations Are Actually Profoundly Entwined At The Heart Of Capitalism. In Solidarity In Strategy, Lyn Spillman Draws On Rich Documentary Archives And A Comprehensive Data Set Of More Than Four Thousand Trade Associations From Diverse And Obscure Corners Of Commercial Life To Reveal A Busy And Often Surprising Arena Of American Economic Activity. From The Intelligent Transportation Society To The American Gem Trade Association, Spillman Explains How Business Associations Are More Collegial Than Cutthroat, And How They Make Capitalist Action Meaningful Not Only By Developing Shared Ideas About Collective Interests But Also By Articulating A Disinterested Solidarity That Transcends Those Interests. Solidarity, Strategy, And The Meaning Of Business -- A New View Of American Business Associations. Unstable, Redundant, And Limited: The Puzzle Of American Business Associations ; Stable, Diverse, And Minimal: Contemporary Business Associations And Cultural Production -- American Business Associations As Cultural Institutions. Meet The Movers And The Shakers Of The Industry: The Social Construction Of Business Interests ; A Special Camaraderie With Colleagues: Presuming And Producing Solidarity -- American Business Associations And Economic Action. To Grow The Industry: Business Associations And Economic Interests ; The Highest Level Of Professional Recognition: Business Associations And Technical Excellence -- American Business Associations In Politics. A Voice For The Industry: Business Associations And Political Interests ; A Tense And Permeable Boundary: Business Associations In The Civil Sphere ; The Power Of Business Culture. Lyn Spillman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 477-504) And Index. Popular conceptions hold that capitalism is driven almost entirely by the pursuit of profit and self-interest. This work reveals an unexpected truth about capitalist society: protecting and promoting the profits of its member businesses are only two of the many functions these associations serve.