Visions of modernity : American business and the modernization of Germany / monograph

In much the same way that Japan has become the focus of contemporary American discussion about industrial restructuring, Germans in the 1920s debated economic reform in terms of Americanism and Fordism, seeing in the United States an intriguing vision for a revitalized economy and a new social order. During the 1920s, Germans were fascinated by American economic success and its quintessential symbols, Henry Ford and his automobile factories. Mary Nolan's book explores the contradictory ways in which trade unionists and industrialists, engineers and politicians, educators and social workers explained American economic success, envisioned a more efficient or "rationalized" economic system for Germany, and anguished over the social and cultural costs of adopting the American version of modernity. These debates about Americanism and Fordism deeply shaped German perceptions of what was economically and socially possible and desirable in terms of technology and work, family and gender relations, consumption and culture.; Nolan examines efforts to transform production and consumption, factories and homes, and argues that economic Americanism was implemented ambivalently and incompletely, producing, in the end, neither prosperity nor political stability. Vision of Modernity will appeal not only to scholars of German History and those interested in European social and working-class history, but also to industrial sociologists and business scholars Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 1. Introduction......Page 16 2. Journeys to America......Page 30 Travelers and Commentators......Page 31 Motives......Page 35 Itineraries......Page 39 3. The Infatuation with Fordism......Page 43 The Man and the Book......Page 45 Fordism as Productivism......Page 49 Taylorism and Fordism......Page 55 Fordism as Consumption......Page 63 Fordism as Ideology......Page 67 4. American Economic Success and German Emulation......Page 71 The Secrets of American Economic Success......Page 72 Americanizing Germany/Germanizing Americanism......Page 83 5. Work, Workers, and the Workplace in America......Page 96 Quality Work and the Quality Worker......Page 97 Intensity and Monotony......Page 103 Joy in Work......Page 111 The Shop Floor and the Firm......Page 116 6. The Cultural Consequences of Americanism......Page 121 Mass Consumption......Page 122 The American Woman......Page 133 7. The Paradoxes of Productivism......Page 144 The National Productivity Board......Page 146 Ruhr Coal Mining......Page 150 Iron and Steel......Page 156 Machine Making......Page 162 8. Winners and Losers......Page 167 Prices......Page 168 Costs......Page 171 Wages......Page 173 Profits......Page 178 Work and Unemployment......Page 180 Reactions and Responses......Page 185 9. Engineering the New Worker......Page 192 Company Social Policy and Social Rationalization......Page 193 Origins and Ideology of Dinta......Page 198 Constructing the New Worker......Page 205 Company Newspapers and Social Programs......Page 209 Trade Union Responses......Page 213 The Battle for the Soul of the Worker......Page 216 10. Housework Made Easy......Page 219 The RKW and Housework......Page 220 The New Woman in the New Home......Page 224 The Ambiguities of Household Rationalization......Page 230 Epilogue......Page 240 Notes......Page 250 Bibliographic Essay......Page 320 A......Page 327 C......Page 328 E......Page 329 G......Page 330 H......Page 331 L......Page 332 M......Page 333 R......Page 334 S......Page 335 V......Page 336 Z......Page 337 In Much The Same Way That Japan Has Become The Focus Of Contemporary American Discussion About Industrial Restructuring, Germans In The 1920s Debated Economic Reform In Terms Of Americanism And Fordism, Seeing In The United States An Intriguing Vision For A Revitalized Economy And A New Social Order. During This Period Germans Were Fascinated By American Economic Success And Its Quintessential Symbols, Henry Ford And His Automobile Factories. Mary Nolan's Visions Of Modernity Explores The Contradictory Ways In Which German Trade Unionists And Industrialists, Engineers And Politicians, Educators And Social Workers Explained American Economic Success, Envisioned A More Efficient Or Rationalized Economic System For Germany, And Anguished Over The Social And Cultural Costs Of Adopting The American Version Of Modernity. These Debates About Americanism And Fordism Deeply Shaped German Perceptions Of What Was Economically And Socially Possible And Desirable In Terms Of Technology And Work, Family And Gender Relations, Consumption And Culture. Nolan Examines Efforts To Transform Production And Consumption Factories And Homes, And Argues That Economic Americanism Was Implemented Ambivalently And Incompletely, Producing, In The End, Neither Prosperity Nor Political Stability. . Embodying An Original Approach To An Important Historical Period, Visions Of Modernity Will Appeal Not Only To Scholars Of German History And Those Interested In European Social And Working-class History, But Also To Industrial Sociologists And Business Scholars. 1. Introduction -- 2. Journeys To America -- 3. The Infatuation With Fordism -- 4. American Economic Success And German Emulation -- 5. Work, Workers, And The Workplace In America -- 6. The Cultural Consequences Of Americanism -- 7. The Paradoxes Of Productivism -- 8. Winners And Losers -- 9. Engineering The New Worker -- 10. Housework Made Easy. Mary Nolan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 237-313) And Index.