The Politics of flexibility : restructuring state and industry in Britain, Germany, and Scandinavia

This important book presents theoretical and empirical studies of the current reorganization of economic, political and social relations in Britain, West Germany and Scandinavia. An international list of distinguished contributors provide critical and well-informed commentaries on issues such as the transition from ‘Fordism’ to ‘Post-Fordism’, discourses and strategies of flexibility, the recomposition of labour markets and labour processes, the changing functions of the welfare state, and the transformation of the state. The arguments are illustrated using cases drawn equally from these three significant and distinct patterns of political economy. In particular, the book assesses how the need for increased ‘flexibility’ influenced the intellectual and organizational responses of these countries to the crises of the late 1970s. This book presents both theoretical and empirical studies of the current reorganization of economic, political and social relations in Britain, West Germany and Scandinavia. The contributors provide critical and well-informed commentaries on issues such as the transition from "Fordism" to "Post-Fordism", discourses and strategies of flexibility, the recomposition of labour markets and labour processes, the changing functions of the welfare state, and the transformation of the state. The arguments are illustrated using cases drawn equally from these three significant and distinct patterns of political economy. In particular, the book assesses how the need for increased "flexibility" influenced the intellectual and organizational responses of these countries to the crises of the late 1970s Presents both theoretical and empirical studies of the current reorganization of economic, political and social relations in Britain, West Germany and Scandinavia. The arguments are illustrated with case studies