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Rethinking Industrial Relations, or at least the British radical frame

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  • Bruce E Kaufman

Abstract

This article provides a short overview of the analysis in John Kelly’s 1998 book Rethinking Industrial Relations ( RIR ) of long-run cycles and trends in worker collective mobilization and conflict, Kelly’s development of a model to explain these patterns, the model’s integrative combination of ideas drawn from Kondratiev long wave theory, Marxian political economy, and Tilly’s sociological model of social mobilization theory, and the book’s central prediction – a resurgence in union growth and industrial conflict. The second part of the article provides a critical evaluation of RIR as a general work in industrial relations theory, the strengths and weaknesses of Kelly’s theoretical model, and an assessment of its empirical explanatory power. The conclusion is that RIR provides an insightful conceptual framework for studying worker mobilization but falls short in both theory and empirical explanation because of defects in its Marxian/long wave foundation and overly British-centric focus.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce E Kaufman, 2018. "Rethinking Industrial Relations, or at least the British radical frame," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 39(4), pages 577-598, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:39:y:2018:i:4:p:577-598
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X18777610
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruce E. Kaufman, 2013. "Keeping the Commitment Model in the Air during Turbulent Times: Employee Involvement at Delta Air Lines," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52, pages 343-377, January.
    2. Bruce E. Kaufman, 1981. "Bargaining Theory, Inflation, and Cyclical Strike Activity in Manufacturing," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 34(3), pages 333-355, April.
    3. Bruce E. Kaufman, 2018. "How Capitalism Endogenously Creates Rising Income Inequality and Economic Crisis: The Macro Political Economy Model of Early Industrial Relations," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 131-173, January.
    4. Peter Gahan & Andreas Pekarek, 2013. "Social Movement Theory, Collective Action Frames and Union Theory: A Critique and Extension," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(4), pages 754-776, December.
    5. Lennart Erixon, 2010. "The Rehn-Meidner Model in Sweden: Its Rise, Challenges and Survival," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 677-715.
    6. Kurt Vandaele, 2016. "Interpreting strike activity in western Europe in the past 20 years: the labour repertoire under pressure," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 22(3), pages 277-294, August.
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    2. Sadık Kılıç, 2023. "Rethinking Mobilization Theory for Union Revitalization within the SSA Theory Framework," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(4), pages 1087-1098, August.

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