Strong Governments, Precarious Workers: Labor Market Policy in the Era of Liberalization

Why do some European welfare states protect unemployed and inadequately employed workers ("outsiders") from economic uncertainty better than others? Philip Rathgeb's study of labor market policy change in three somewhat-similar small states—Austria, Denmark, and Sweden—explores this fundamental question. He does so by examining the distribution of power between trade unions and political parties, attempting to bridge these two lines of research—trade unions and party politics—that, with few exceptions, have advanced without a mutual exchange. Inclusive trade unions have high political stakes in the protection of outsiders, because they incorporate workers at risk of unemployment into their representational outlook. Yet, the impact of union preferences has declined over time, with a shift in the balance of class power from labor to capital across the Western world. National governments have accordingly prioritized flexibility for employers over the social protection of outsiders. As a result, organized labor can only protect outsiders when governments are reliant on union consent for successful consensus mobilization. When governments have a united majority of seats, on the other hand, they are strong enough to exclude unions. Strong Governments, Precarious Workers calls into question the electoral responsiveness of national governments—and thus political parties—to the social needs of an increasingly numerous group of precarious workers. In the end, Rathgeb concludes that the weaker the government, the stronger the capacity of organized labor to enhance the social protection of precarious workers.

About the Author :
Philip Rathgeb is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Konstanz. This is his first book.

Review :
Conversely to existing theoretical arguments that consider trade unions as organisations that contribute to both labour market dualization and the emergence of precarious work, this book takes a much more brave and provocative approach, which without any doubt contributes to its merits. (British Journal of Industrial Relations) Strong Governments, Precarious Workers delivers a clear and intriguing argument that should stimulate debate and research in the years to come. - Jens Arnholtz, University of Copenhagen (ILR Review) Rathgeb's book is timely in contributing to contemporary analyses and debates around addressing the precarity of work. Academics and practitioners have much to gain from Rathgeb's political analysis of how to advance social solidarity and protect precarious workers in the neoliberal era. (Work, Employment and Society) Strong Governments, Precarious Workers provides an innovative take on a much-debated issue, making it highly recommended reading for all scholars concerned with the transformations of labour relations in modern capitalism. (Journal of Social Policy) Rathgeb's excellent study engages with important and timely issues for both research and society and should be read widely by scholars and experts in the fields of welfare state politics, political economy, and employment relations. (Perspectives on Politics)