Comments on: Who are the Social Democrats in a Post-Industrial Society? http://www.social-europe.eu/2009/11/who-are-the-social-democrats-in-a-post-industrial-society/ debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:03:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lendvai Ildikó és a “szociáldemokrácia” » A Kalapácsos Ember - hírek, elemzések, vélemények, viták … szociáldemokraták és mások között http://www.social-europe.eu/2009/11/who-are-the-social-democrats-in-a-post-industrial-society/comment-page-1/#comment-3409 Lendvai Ildikó és a “szociáldemokrácia” » A Kalapácsos Ember - hírek, elemzések, vélemények, viták … szociáldemokraták és mások között Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:55:03 +0000 http://www.social-europe.eu/?p=2516#comment-3409 [...] szemfényvesztésr?l van szó. Fredrik Jansson, svéd szociáldemokrata író ezt írja egy cikkében: “Ma szociáldemokratának lenni egyet jelent egy pártcsaládhoz való tartozással: a [...] [...] szemfényvesztésr?l van szó. Fredrik Jansson, svéd szociáldemokrata író ezt írja egy cikkében: “Ma szociáldemokratának lenni egyet jelent egy pártcsaládhoz való tartozással: a [...]

]]> By: french derek http://www.social-europe.eu/2009/11/who-are-the-social-democrats-in-a-post-industrial-society/comment-page-1/#comment-3317 french derek Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:14:42 +0000 http://www.social-europe.eu/?p=2516#comment-3317 You did not mention how trade unions (surely an instrument of social organisation?) across Europe have become so different. For example, here in France, they retain a powerful role in national government decision-making and often at local (industry/factory) level. But they do not have a strong membership; their representation of workers as a group has become remote. How can they declare themselves as representatives of the workers when they have so few, as members, to consult with? Perhaps your last-but-one paragraph is the key? Events over the past 20 years have "individualised" society. People now act individually - as workers and as consumers - coming together only when they feel common cause. And perhaps trades unions have outlived their traditional role? But individuals have become "mini-capitalists", too. We have savings schemes, pension and private insurance schemes that make us proxy investors in shares, etc. Some, even, have become investors (suppliers of capital) themselves via direct stock-market involvement. In the words of Harry Braverman (Labour and Monopoly Capital) we have all become "agents of capital". How to handle that? You did not mention how trade unions (surely an instrument of social organisation?) across Europe have become so different. For example, here in France, they retain a powerful role in national government decision-making and often at local (industry/factory) level. But they do not have a strong membership; their representation of workers as a group has become remote. How can they declare themselves as representatives of the workers when they have so few, as members, to consult with?

Perhaps your last-but-one paragraph is the key? Events over the past 20 years have “individualised” society. People now act individually – as workers and as consumers – coming together only when they feel common cause. And perhaps trades unions have outlived their traditional role? But individuals have become “mini-capitalists”, too. We have savings schemes, pension and private insurance schemes that make us proxy investors in shares, etc. Some, even, have become investors (suppliers of capital) themselves via direct stock-market involvement. In the words of Harry Braverman (Labour and Monopoly Capital) we have all become “agents of capital”.

How to handle that?

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