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Illusory Corporatism in Eastern Europe: Neoliberal Tripartism and Postcommunist Class Identities

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  • DAVID OST

Abstract

The plethora of tripartite bodies in postcommunist countries seems to suggest the emergence of an East European corporatism. Analysis of arrangements in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland indicates instead the prevalence of illusory corporatism. Token negotiations, nonbinding agreements, and exclusion of the private sector demonstrate that tripartite procedures are deployed to introduce neoliberal, not social democratic, outcomes. A path-dependent argument stressing labor's weak class identity best explains these outcomes. East European labor, unlike historic Western counterparts, is marked by a weak sense of class interests, disinclination to organize the private sector, and declining support from the workforce, making it unable to emerge as a strong force. It is not labor but the new elites that seek tripartism, hoping thereby to share burdens, conform to European norms, and demonstrate responsiveness to society. Formal tripartism also follows from the legacy of state socialism, giving symbolic voice to the formerly included now headed for exclusion. In the end, tripartism helps secure labor's acceptance of its own marginalization.

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  • David Ost, 2000. "Illusory Corporatism in Eastern Europe: Neoliberal Tripartism and Postcommunist Class Identities," Politics & Society, , vol. 28(4), pages 503-530, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:28:y:2000:i:4:p:503-530
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329200028004004
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    Cited by:

    1. Gerber, Christine, 2014. "Trade union responses towards labour market dualization comparing the impact of the varieties of industrial relations in Germany, Slovenia and Poland," PIPE - Papers on International Political Economy 23/2014, Free University Berlin, Center for International Political Economy.
    2. Guglielmo Meardi, 2018. "Economic Integration and State Responses: Change in European Industrial Relations since Maastricht," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(3), pages 631-655, September.
    3. Rapacki, Ryszard & Gardawski, Juliusz & Czerniak, Adam & Horbaczewska, Bożena & Karbowski, Adam & Maszczyk, Piotr & Próchniak, Mariusz, 2018. "Wyłaniające się odmiany kapitalizmu w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej: przegląd badań [Emerging varieties of capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe: a review]," MPRA Paper 90363, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2018.
    4. Careja, Romana, 2007. "Are trade unions effective accounting actors?," SEER Journal for Labour and Social Affairs in Eastern Europe, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 10(4), pages 83-106.
    5. Vliegenthart, Arjan, 2007. "Regulating employee representation in postsocialist supervisory boards," SEER Journal for Labour and Social Affairs in Eastern Europe, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 10(4), pages 67-82.
    6. Amrita Chhachhi & Eli Friedman, 2014. "Alienated Politics: Labour Insurgency and the Paternalistic State in China," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 45(5), pages 1001-1018, September.

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