Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP30055 Comparative industrial relations |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: ES 70% CW 30% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take SP10043 and whilst taking this unit you must take SP20047 and SP20048. |
|
Aims: The aims of the unit are to:
i. provide students with a critical understanding of theoretical and empirical issues of industrial relations in a comparative and historical perspective; ii. reflect critically on the main transformations in industrial relations in advanced capitalist countries and in different historical periods as a result of wider processes of economic, political and social transformation; iii. developed a comparative skill looking for similarities as well as differences in the case studies; iv. promote participation and the involvement of students in a deeper awareness of their own approaches to the issues addressed during the unit, in order to see themselves as a part of the intellectual and institutional developments they are studying and not simply observers of processes that do not directly affect them. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit the students should be able to: i. identify the major transformations in the relations between unions, employers and the state in different capitalist countries; ii. find similarities as well as differences in structure, modes of action, bargaining systems, ideologies; iii. assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in focusing particularly on relations between unions, employers and the state; iv. grasp the political and economic transformations which led to major changes in industrial relations in the countries under examination; v. critically assess the major approaches and debates which aimed to grasp the transformation of industrial relations in those countries, in their historical context of production. Knowledge outcomes : Soc/HRM - * Theoretical basis of sociological perspectives; * Knowledge of the current developments in practice and research in a European and world context. Skills: Intellectual skills: * To think creatively and analytically; * To communicate an argument; * To evaluate others' arguments and research; * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information; * To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge; * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. Transferable/Key skills: * To develop inter-personal and communication skills; * To develop essay research, preparation and writing skills; * To construct a bibliography of varying complexity; * To develop presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. oral presentations, seminar and tutorial contributions). Content: This unit examines theoretical and empirical issues of industrial relations in a comparative and historical context. It will search for similarities as well as differences in structure, modes of action, bargaining systems, ideologies in 6 different countries (mostly form Europe but also from Latin America and Eastern Europe). The unit will focus on four periods: 1. the 'post-war' settlement' - the set of institutions and relations that was consolidated in all countries in the years immediately following World War II; 2. the long boom associated with 'the golden age of capitalism' and which culminated (especially in Europe) in a major wave of industrial militancy and conflict in the years 1968-74; 3. the period post-1974 when economic problems, the return of mass unemployment and in a number of countries governments overtly hostile to trade unions have created 'lean times' for unions in many countries; 4. The present time associated to globalisation and the post-modern and post-fordist era. |