Where Are The Unions? : Workers and Social Movements in Latin America, the Middle East and Europe

The first fully comprehensive comparison of the Latin American 'turn to the left', the Middle East and North African 'Arab Spring' and the Occupy and anti-austerity movements of Europe and North America, with a focus on the apparent lack of union involvement. The start of the twenty-first century has been marked by global demands for economic justice. From the pink tide and Arab spring to Occupy and anti-austerity, the last twenty years have witnessed the birth of a new type of mass mobilisation. Where Are The Unions? compares, for the first time, the challenges faced by movements in Latin America, the Arab world and Europe. Workers' strikes and protests were a critical part of these events, yet their role has been significantly underestimated in many of the subsequent narratives. This book focuses on the complex interactions between organised workers, the unemployed, self-employed, youth, students and the state, and critically assesses the concept of the 'precariat'. With contributions from across four continents, this is the most comprehensive look at the global context of mass mobilisation in the twenty-first century The Start Of The 21st Century Has Been Marked By Global Demands For Economic Justice. From The Wave That Swept Through Latin America In The Early 2000s, And The Arab Revolutions From 2011, To The Occupy And Anti-austerity Movements In Europe And North America, The Last 20 Years Have Witnessed The Birth Of A New Type Of Mass Mobilisation. 'where Are The Unions?' Compares, For The First Time, The Challenges Faced By Movements In Latin America, The Arab World And Europe. Workers' Strikes And Protests Played A Critical Role In These Mass Movements, Yet Their Role Is Significantly Underestimated In Many Narratives Of These Events. This Book Focuses On The Complex Interactions Between Organised Workers, The Unemployed, Self-employed, Youth, Students And The State, And Critically Assesses The Concept Of The 'precariat'. With Contributions From Across Four Continents, This Is The Most Comprehensive Look At The Global Context Of Mass Mobilisation In The 21st Century. Part One. Labor Movements, Society And The State. The Egyptian Workers' Movement: Problems Of Organization And Politics / Anne Alexander And Mostafa Bassiouny / From The Grassroots To The Presidential Palace: Evo Morales And The Coca Growers' Union In Bolivia / Thomas Grisaffi / The Labour Union Movement And 'alternative' Culture In Tunisia: The Long View Of A Close Relationship / Mohamed-salah Omri. Part Two. Identity And Precarity. Migrants' Struggles? Rethinking Citizenship, Anti-racism And Labor Precarity Through Migration Politics In Italy / Irene Peano / The Spanish Crisis: From Complacency To Unrest, From Unrest To Mobilization / Salvador Martí I Puig And Marco Aparicio Wilhelmi / What Are The Possible Strategies For The Emergence Of A Democratic And Revolutionary Labor Movement In Lebanon? / Walid Daou / 'to Struggle Is Also To Teach': How Can Teachers And Teaching Unions Further The Global Fight For Another World? / Mary Compton. Part Three. Rank And File Challenges To Traditional Unionism. 'ungrievable' Labor And 'unruly' Politics: Ngos, Workers' Rights, And The 2013-2014 Protests In Brazil / Lucy Mcmahon / The Experience Of Grassroots Syndicalism In Greece: Workplace Restructuring And The Role Of Traditional Trade Unions In The Tertiary Sector / Aris Anagnostopoulos And Angelos Evangelinidis / Dilemmas Of Trade Unionism And The Movement Of The Unemployed Under Neoliberal And Progressive Regimes In Argentina / Virginia Manzano / From Invisible To Invincible: The Story Of The 3 Cosas Campaign / Jason Moyer-lee And Henry Chango Lopez / Afterword: Bringing Manifestos Back In? / Peter Waterman. Edited By Sian Lazar. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Este libro nos ofrece un amplio panorama de los movimientos sociales surgidos en el siglo XXI. El siglo ha comenzado con una fuerte demanda de justicia económica que han representado movimientos como la "Pink Tide", la Primavera Árabe y el movimiento Occupy Wall Street . Los autores comparan los retos que enfrentaron estas acciones en América Latina, los países árabes y Europa. En todos los casos, las huelgas de trabajadores desempeñaron un papel importante y sin embargo su significado ha sido minimizado en lo narrado posteriormente. Por ello, este libro analiza la compleja interacción que se dio entre los sindicatos, los desempleados, los jóvenes y el estado The first comprehensive comparison of the pink tide in Latin America, the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa and the Occupy and anti-austerity movements in Europe and North America, with a focus on the apparent lack of union involvement