Labour and the Challenges of Globalization: What Prospects for Transnational Solidarity? »

Andreas Bieler is Professor of Political Economy in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham. Ingemar Lindberg, a former trade unionist, is a senior researcher at the Swedish think-tank Agora.Devan Pillay, a former trade unionist, is Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Critically examines the responses of the working classes to the challenges of the neoliberal global economy.

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Foreword: rebuilding the unity of the 'labour front' Samir Amin Amin, Samir

1 The future of the global working class: an introduction Andreas Bieler Bieler, Andreas Ingemar Lindberg Lindberg, Ingemar Devan Pillay Pillay, Devan 1

2 The contested politics of gender and irregular employment: revitalizing the South Korean democratic labour movement Jennifer Jihye Chun Chun, Jennifer Jihye 23

3 Globalization and the informalization of labour: the case of South Africa Devan Pillay Pillay, Devan 45

4 Globalization and labour in India: emerging challenges and responses Praveen Jha Jha, Praveen 65

5 How China's migrant labourers are becoming the new proletariat Wen Tiejun Wen, Tiejun 81

6 The globalization of capital and its impact on the world of formal and informal work: challenges for and responses from Argentine unions Isabel Rauber Rauber, Isabel 98

7 Neoliberal policies, labour market restructuring and social exclusion: Brazil's working-class response Kjeld Jakobsen Jakobsen, Kjeld Alexandre de Freitas Barbosa Barbosa, Alexandre de Freitas 115

8 The impact of globalization on trade unions: the situation in Japan Wakana Shuto Shuto, Wakana Mac Urata Urata, Mac 139

9 Challenges facing the Canadian labour movement in the context of globalization, unemployment and the casualization of labour Geoff Bickerton Bickerton, Geoff Jane Stinson Stinson, Jane 161

10 German trade unions between neoliberal restructuring, social partnership and internationalism Heiner Dribbusch Dribbusch, Heiner Thorsten Schulten Schulten, Thorsten 178

11 Swedish unions and globalization: labour strategies in a changing global orderAndreas Bieler Bieler, Andreas Ingemar Lindberg Lindberg, Ingemar 199

12 Building alliances between formal and informal workers: experiences from Africa Ilda Lindell Lindell, Ilda 217

13 European integration: a strategic level for trade union resistance to neoliberal restructuring and for the promotion of political alternatives? Andreas Bieler Bieler, Andreas Thorsten Schulten Schulten, Thorsten 231

14 A trade union internationalism for the 21st century: meeting the challenges from above, below and beyond Peter Waterman Waterman, Peter 248

15 What future strategy for the global working class? The need for a new historical subject Andreas Bieler Bieler, Andreas Ingemar Lindberg Lindberg, Ingemar Devan Pillay Pillay, Devan 264

Bibliography 287

Notes on contributors 315

List of abbreviations 319

Index 325