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Abstract
This section presents the third volume of Max Weber's fundamental work Economy and Society which has been translated into Russian for the first time. The third volume includes two works devoted to the sociology of law. The first, 'The Economy and Laws', discusses differences between sociological and juridical approaches to studies of social processes. It describes peculiarities of normative power arenas (orders) at different levels and demonstrates how they influence the economy. The second, 'Economy and Law' ('Sociology of Law'), reviews the evolution of law orders (primarily, the three "greatest systems of law" including Roman Law, Anglo-American Law, and European Continental Law) in the context of changes in the organization of economy and structures of dominancy. Law is considered an influential factor of the rationalization of social life which in turn is affected by a rationalized economy and social management. The Journal of Economic Sociology here publishes an excerpt from the chapter 'Law, Convention and Custom' in this third volume, which shows the role of the habitual in the formation of law; explains the importance of intuition and empathy for the emergence of new orders; and discusses the changeable borders between law, convention and custom. The translation is edited by Leonid Ionin and the chapter is published with the permission of HSE Publishing House. © 2018 National Research University Higher School of Economics. All rights reserved.
... Furthermore, Weber's (1978) concept of charismatic authority is pertinent in elucidating Phra Bodhirak's central role; his ascetic lifestyle and reformist religious stance confer legitimacy and collective appeal among his followers. The community's economic independence aligns with Schumacher (2011) otion of Buddhist economics, which advocates for small-scale, self-reliant, and ethical production harmonised with spiritual values. ...
... Spiritual values not only serve as normative guidelines, but are also internalized through daily collective practices, such as vegetarian diets, ethical disciplines and shared rituals. This is in accordance with Weber's (1978) notion of charismatic authority, where Phra Bodhirak's spiritual leadership provides strong moral legitimacy and encourages voluntary adherence to community values. Participation in decision-making and egalitarian governance structures reinforce a sense of shared ownership of the community, creating bonding social capital (Bourdieu, 2018) that fosters solidarity and strengthens social cohesion. ...
... Nevertheless, these findings also highlight potential dysfunctions in the Asoke community model. Reliance on charismatic authority (Weber, 1978), poses a risk of exclusivity, centralization of power, and a potential leadership regeneration crisis in the future. A highly disciplined structure that is closed to outside influences may hinder the community's ability to adapt to social change, particularly in responding to the challenges of digitalization and the differing preferences of younger generations. ...
This research aims to identify and analyse the key factors underpinning the sustainability of Asoke faith-based communities in Thailand amidst social, political, and economic challenges. The primary focus is to explore the spiritual, social, and economic mechanisms contributing to the resilience of the Asoke community, positioning it as a distinctive model in the sustainability of faith-based organisations in Thailand. Employing a qualitative design with an ethnographic approach, data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was utilised to examine themes related to spiritual sustainability, economic resilience, and community governance. The main findings indicate that the sustainability of Asoke communities is not solely driven by alternative economic systems or communal social structures but is significantly influenced by ethical spiritual leadership, consistency in religious practices, and the successful cultivation of social trust amidst external pressures. These findings align with previous studies highlighting the role of Asoke Buddhist beliefs and practices in contributing to development at individual, community, and societal levels. The implications of this research suggest that the Asoke faith-based sustainability model can inspire other faith-based organizations and policymakers in constructing sustainable communities by integrating spiritual, social, and economic values.This study makes an original contribution by addressing a gap in the literature concerning the long-term sustainability of alternative Buddhist movements in Thailand, particularly the Asoke community, which has not been comprehensively examined in prior research.
... Secondly, policy instruments that are inconsistent with public o cials' preferences may fail. As Weber (1978) notes, public o cials may have real authority in the government department because of their information strengths (see also Aghion andTirole 1997, Gains andJohn 2010). Public o cials may resist policy instruments that do not meet their preferences (Song et al. 2017, Kammermann andAngst 2018). ...
... Public o cials' preferences for policy instruments and performance information effects The critical challenge in the public sector is to motivate public o cials to act in accordance with the policies established by politicians (Simon 1947 Weber 1978). This worry is not unreasonable given that public o cials may 'exploit their information advantage over elected o cials' (Moynihan 2008, 35) to 'manipulate politicians into accepting policies that are closer to their preferences' (Baekgaard, Blom-Hansen, and Serritzlew 2015, 461). ...
This paper examines how performance information affects public officials’ preferences for policy instruments in visible public goods (e.g., above-ground roads and parks) and invisible public goods (e.g., below-ground sewage systems) domains. Using a survey experiment with 1,171 Chinese public officials, we find that in the visible domain, regardless of performance information, public officials prefer market-oriented indirect policy instruments (e.g., outsourcing, subsidies) over government-oriented direct policy instruments (e.g., direct government provision), suggesting that avoiding blame is key motivations for understanding their policy preferences. In contrast, performance information plays a limited role in the invisible domain, with public officials prioritizing effectiveness and legitimacy in their choice of instruments. These findings suggest that performance management systems alone may not be sufficient to incentivize proactive governance. Thus, there is a need for balanced accountability mechanisms that encourage the implementation of appropriate instruments in different policy areas to achieve policy goals.
... Though not always a central focus, democracy also preoccupied sociologists in the classic and modern eras of the discipline's development. Among the examples that can be mentioned, Max Weber (1922Weber ( /1978 conceived the different types of rationalization in terms of the opposition between autocracy and democracy. Substantively, Weber argued, rationalization is legitimated by divine will (autocracy) or the will of the people (democracy), whereas rationalization in formal respects is based on charisma (autocracy) or legality (democracy). ...
... Though not always a central focus, democracy also preoccupied sociologists in the classic and modern eras of the discipline's development. Among the examples that can be mentioned, Max Weber (1922Weber ( /1978 conceived the different types of rationalization in terms of the opposition between autocracy and democracy. Substantively, Weber argued, rationalization is legitimated by divine will (autocracy) or the will of the people (democracy), whereas rationalization in formal respects is based on charisma (autocracy) or legality (democracy). ...
This is the introduction to Democracy, Governance, and Law, edited by Mathieu Deflem. Vol. 29 of Sociology of Crime, Law, and Deviance, Emerald Publishing, April 2025.
... The values of administrative law in a rational-legal form of legitimation are considered one of the main ingredients in the rise of the capitalist system of production (Weber, 2013(Weber, [1926). ...
... The values of administrative law in a rational-legal form of legitimation are considered one of the main ingredients in the rise of the capitalist system of production (Weber, 2013(Weber, [1926). ...
A fundamental theoretical problem is understanding hybridity
at different levels of societal activities and decision-making. In other words, how can the notion of hybridity be extended from an organisational problem to other facets and contexts of societal activities?
... The values of administrative law in a rational-legal form of legitimation are considered one of the main ingredients in the rise of the capitalist system of production (Weber, 2013(Weber, [1926). ...
... The values of administrative law in a rational-legal form of legitimation are considered one of the main ingredients in the rise of the capitalist system of production (Weber, 2013(Weber, [1926). ...
Complex policy problems do not follow the definitions of sectoral or organisational mandates in which individual concernsare linked to specific policy problems and where the respective accountabilities are easily demonstrated through the performance of individual policies.
... The first element is the central role of social visibility. Because status is defined as a set of shared beliefs about a rank of individuals in a society (Ridgeway, 2014;Weber, 1968), status consumption must be socially visible and associated with a higher position in order to modify those beliefs (Duesenberry, 1949;Frank, 1985;Veblen, 1994). ...
... Social status is a ranking of individuals based on shared beliefs about differences in honor, recognition, esteem, and respect (Ridgeway, 2014;Weber, 1968;Weiss & Fershtman, 1998). People may care about their social status for intrinsic reasons, for example, because they value the esteem and respect others have for them, as well as for instrumental reasons. ...
We performed a field experiment in Uruguay in which a 20-year-old chooses between a socially visible and a non-socially visible good after a friend randomly received one of these goods or an unknown one. We find no differences in choices when the friend received the nonvisible good instead of the unknown one. However, decision-makers significantly changed their allocation when their friend received the visible good. Consistent with status concerns driving the results, those in a disadvantaged position consumed more and those in an advantaged position consumed less of the visible good. These findings constitute the first experimental evidence of Duesenberry’s demonstration effects and show that status consumption is a relevant phenomenon among the youth in a developing country setting.
... Hal ini mencerminkan dampak dari kapitalisme yang masuk ke dalam masyarakat agraris, yang menyebabkan perubahan nilai dan tujuan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari mereka (Harvey, 2007). Menurut teori Weberian, orientasi ini mengarah pada nilai utilitarian dalam bertani, yang lebih mengutamakan keuntungan finansial ketimbang keberlanjutan sosial atau ekologis (Weber, 1922). ...
Konversi lahan untuk pertanian jagung di Kabupaten Bima telah menjadi fenomena signifikan dengan dampak besar terhadap lingkungan dan pola sosial-ekonomi masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis implementasi hukum lingkungan terkait konversi lahan, dampak sosial-ekonomi dari perubahan pola pertanian, dan bagaimana perspektif sosiologi hukum dapat menjelaskan interaksi antara kebijakan, struktur sosial, dan perilaku masyarakat dalam konteks tersebut. Konversi lahan memicu deforestasi yang mengancam ekosistem. lemahnya implementasi regulasi seperti Undang-Undang No. 41 Tahun 1999 dan peraturan terkait. Di sisi sosial, orientasi pertanian jagung sebagai komoditas ekspor telah mengubah pola konsumsi masyarakat menjadi lebih konsumtif, memunculkan mentalitas miskin, dan meningkatkan tekanan terhadap lahan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan hubungan antara hukum, perubahan sosial, dan dampak lingkungan dalam implementasi hukum lingkungan sangat kompleks dan saling mempengaruhi. Lemahnya penegakan hukum dan pengawasan, serta konflik antara kebutuhan ekonomi lokal dan kebijakan konservasi, menjadi tantangan utama dalam mengatasi deforestasi. Diperlukan pendekatan kebijakan terpadu yang mencakup penguatan penegakan hukum, penyuluhan tentang keberlanjutan lingkungan, pemberian insentif ekonomi berbasis lingkungan, dan pelibatan masyarakat dalam pengelolaan sumber daya alam. Dengan reformasi kebijakan berbasis bukti dan inklusif, Kabupaten Bima dapat mencapai keseimbangan antara pembangunan ekonomi melalui pertanian jagung dan pelestarian lingkungan, sekaligus menciptakan model pembangunan berkelanjutan yang dapat menjadi teladan bagi daerah lain di Indonesia.
... As for external barriers, the normalization of gambling, lack of structural awareness of gambling as addictive, inadequate screening methods to identify individuals with GD, and the lack of tailored treatment options for GD in the VA healthcare system were all identified as notable barriers to accessing GD treatment. Weber (1978) foundational analysis of organizations explains why military institutions necessitate higher degrees of discipline, order, and rational thought to fulfill their role in national defense and the organization of violence on behalf of the state. This observation distinguishes them from other institutions, such as law enforcement, which primarily regulates civilian affairs at the local level (Nuciari, 2018); this also extends to healthcare systems, which emphasize patient care and public health, requiring adaptability and responsiveness to diverse medical needs (Soeters, 2018). ...
Gambling disorder (GD) poses a significant public health problem, with treatment access frequently hindered by barriers. This study sought to identify the unique internal and external barriers encountered by military personnel with GD using a qualitative descriptive method. Twenty-eight United States military veterans and service members (SMs) were recruited through purposeful sampling strategies and interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Content analysis revealed two main themes: “Emotional Suppression in Military Culture” reflecting military cultural norms that emphasize strength, discipline, and emotional control, which were internalized by the participants and created significant internal barriers; “Structural Ignorance of Gambling Problems” uncovers external barriers such as the normalization of gambling, insufficient recognition of gambling’s addictive nature within military and Veterans Affairs (VA) settings, and inadequate treatment options within the VA healthcare system. The study underscores the complex interplay between cultural norms and institutional practices and proposes policy recommendations to improve help-seeking behaviors for veterans and SMs.
... teleological, institutional, ecological, and cultural. To further comprehend the four lanes and associated theoretical conversations, including their historical roots, we revisited a number of foundational books, book chapters, and articles about professions (e.g., Abbott, 1988;Babb, 2001;Becker et al., 1961;Bledstein, 1976;Brint, 1994;Carr-Saunders and Wilson, 1933;DiMaggio, 1988DiMaggio, , 1991DiMaggio, , 1991Fourcade, 2009;Freidson, 1986Freidson, , 2001Freidson, , 1970bHaug, 1972;Hughes, 1958;Johnson, 1972;Kornhauser, 1962;Larson, 1977;Millerson, 1964;Montagna, 1968;Parsons, 1939;Starr, 1982;Thornton et al., 2012;Thornton and Ocasio, 2008;Weber, 1978;Wilensky, 1964). As an outcome of this process, we wrote sections describing each paradigmatic lane and its associated theoretical conversations. ...
Professions continue to be central to understanding organizing in the 21st century. The literature on professions is segmented into theoretical conversations that offer different conceptualizations of professions and theoretical concerns. Through an analysis of the literature, we unpack four lanes-teleological, institutional, ecological, and cultural-that co-exist to make up the literature on professions. We synthesize the theoretical conversations generated within each lane, identify key distinctions across lanes, and assess the future potential of each lane, noting where there is space for contribution. Beyond making the dominant paradigms, their plurality, and their central distinctions recognizable, we encourage researchers to move beyond studying professions qua professions to articulate the role and impact of professions in organizations and society. We offer seven proposals for enlivening the research agenda on professions, including prioritizing real-world problems and outcomes over paradigmatic perspectives.
... Rev. Vedhamuthu stated: "In this society, everyone is equal, and I wish to abolish caste practices and discrimination among the people. " Such aspirations reflect social action rooted in theological and sociological visions of equality (Weber, 1978). ...
... Authors such as Max Weber, in "Economy and Society", which was published posthumously in 1922 and Woodrow Wilson, in "The Study of Administration", published in 1887, lay a strong foundation for understanding bureaucratic systems and public administration (Wu 2022:2). These foundational theories emphasise the importance of structured, rule-based governance and highlight the need for efficient and responsive governance structures, offering insights into how policies are crafted and implemented (Weber 1978:18 & Wilson 1887:1999. This assisted the researcher in understanding the evolution and impact of South Africa's statutory framework on SMMEs, particularly how these frameworks either facilitate or hinder access to resources, thus providing a comprehensive analysis of the framework's effectiveness in fostering an enabling environment for SMMEs to grow. ...
The research titled "The Role of the Government in Creating an Enabling Environment for SMMEs to Prosper in Johannesburg" focuses on the constraints that prevent SMMEs from accessing resources in Johannesburg. It explores how government policies, support mechanisms, and institutional frameworks can foster a conducive environment for the growth and sustainability of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). It investigates the extent to which access to resources, such as funding, infrastructure, training, and markets, is facilitated by the state, and examines the challenges that SMMEs face despite existing support. The study aims to provide actionable recommendations to strengthen government interventions that can enhance the competitiveness and resilience of SMMEs in Johannesburg.
... Hal ini dalam rangka memberikan legitimasi bagi hukum yang telah diberlakukan di masyarakat. Oleh karena itu, untuk mendapatkan legitimasinya suatu hukum juga harus dipatuhi dan dianggap berlaku di masyarakat (Weber, 1978). d. ...
Konsep hukum sebagai kontrol sosial merujuk pada peran hukum dalam mengatur dan mengendalikan perilaku masyarakat sehinga terwujud ketertiban yang diimplementasikan sebagian besar melalui aturan hukum tertulis. Salah satu contoh upaya kontrol sosial melalui hukum dapat ditelaah pada kendala pemberlakuan larangan impor pakaian bekas (ballpress). Meskipun telah terdapat larangan impor pakaian bekas melalui Permendag No. 40/2022, perdagangan dan permintaan pakaian bekas masih tinggi, didorong oleh faktor ekonomi dan preferensi konsumen terhadap tren berbusana dengan harga terjangkau. Dalam penelitian ini, digunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif-empiris dan pendekatan sosiolegal untuk menjelaskan kesenjangan antara idealitas hukum (sollen) dan realitas sosial (sein). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penegakan hukum yang tidak efektif dan pengaruh sosial ekonomi, seperti keterbatasan lapangan kerja dan rendahnya daya beli, menghambat efektivitas implementasi peraturan tersebut. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan evaluasi kebijakan dalam rangka menciptakan kerangka hukum yang mampu berfungsi sebagai kontrol sosial sekaligus memberikan keadilan dan kemanfaatan hukum bagi masyarakat.
... Todavia, é importante separar analiticamente os conceitos de Estado e nação. Mesmo se um Estado é declarado como completamente "disfuncional" -isto é, o seu funcionamento não corresponde ao modelo europeu clássico no sentido weberiano racional-legal do termo (WEBER, 1978(WEBER, [1922ver também BLUNDO;OLIVIER DE SARDAN, 2006b, p. 4-5) -o Estado pode continuar existindo se ele é caracterizado por uma pronunciada identidade nacional e uma fraca identificação da nação com o Estado (YOUNG, 2007, p. 241;KNÖRR, 2008, p. 38). Isto pode ser observado em muitos países africanos -como, por exemplo, na Guiné-Conacri, Serra Leoa e na Guiné-Bissau -onde uma forte imaginação da população como nação está acompanhada por uma fraca identificação com o Estado. ...
Contrariando muitas análises, esse artigo argumenta que é elevada a integração nacional em Guiné-Bissau a partir dos “de baixo” e não principalmente comoresultado da ação do Estado. O movimento independentista advogou um modelo de “unidade nacional na diversidade étnica”, mas a construção da nacionalidade não foi efetivamente acompanhada por uma edificação estatal bemsucedida. A invasão estrangeira em 1998-1999 fomentou ainda mais a integração nacional.
... The Kebra Nagast (Budge, 2007) frames Ethiopia as the inheritor of the Ark of the Covenant, a narrative the church leveraged to cast the battle as a holy war. This echoes Weber's (1978) concept of charismatic authority, where religious sanction enhances a leader's legitimacy. Menelik's invocation of biblical imagery, paralleled by priests' sermons, transcended mere rhetoric; it tapped into a deep-seated belief in Ethiopia's sacred destiny, distinguishing its resistance from secular anti-colonial struggles elsewhere in Africa. ...
The Battle of Adwa, fought on March 1, 1896, marked Ethiopia's historic defeat of Italian colonial forces, preserving its sovereignty and inspiring global anti-colonial movements. This victory intertwined religion, culture, astronomy, and the Ark of the Covenant's symbolism, yet its multifaceted dimensions remain underexplored. This study investigates how these elements-religious motivations, cultural diversity, astronomical timing, and the Ark's symbolism-shaped Adwa's success, reinforcing Ethiopia's national identity and global resonance. A qualitative approach was employed, analyzing archival records, oral histories from Tigrayan and Amhara elders (collected in 2023), and secondary sources. Thematic analysis identified key patterns, triangulated with historical and astronomical data, focusing on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's role, cultural integration, celestial influences, and symbolic power. The church unified Ethiopia's diverse populace through faith and the Tabot, while cultural practices and women's leadership enhanced military effectiveness. Astronomical timing via the Geez calendar suggested strategic alignment, though evidence is inconclusive. The Ark symbolized divine sanction, bolstering identity and inspiring Pan-Africanism. Elders and youth at home supported logistics and morale, ensuring a collective triumph. Adwa's victory reflects a synergy of religion, culture, and symbolism, underpinned by societal unity, offering a model of resilience against oppression. Future studies should deepen comparative and astronomical analyses, while educational efforts should promote Adwa's lessons for modern generations.
... Apparently, most definitions and explanations of the term, by social and political scientists, seem to draw from this perspective. Max Weber (1968) for instance, described the ethnic group as "those human groups that entertain a subjective belief in their common descent" (Kasfir, 1976). The main elements of ethnicity according to Nnoli (2007) include "exclusiveness manifested in inter-group competition, conflict in relation to stiff competition, and the consciousness of being one in relation to others" (Nnoli, 2007). ...
Ethnic politics and national identities remained contentious debate in political science and particularly, in comparative politics. While this study has systematically reviewed ethnic politics and national identities in selected African countries of DR Congo, Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda as well as discussing sectarian politics and violence in the Middle East countries, the study is timely given the political transformation of the world today. The study argues that ethnic politics and national identities are shaped by elites in given countries. Political elites will mobilize their constituents and subjects for violence conflicts and hateful national identities crusades while corrupting the country resources. If this is not handled well on time, it can spiral to genocide and ethnic
cleansing destroying the states. A great example is the Rwanda genocide. The study deploys case studies, process tracing and
comparative method to scholarly argue ethnic politics and national identities, their taxonomies, political salience of divisions,
political competition & ethnic mobilization, the economy of ethnicity, corruption & political marketplace, ethnic politics &
cleavages of Middle East countries, DR Congo, Burundi & Kenya and Rwanda genocide. To remedy extreme ethnic politics and
violence national identities, accommodation of deep ethnic differences and national identities must be done expeditiously. This accommodation should embrace accountability and rule of law to those elites who triggered violence ethnic politics and sectarianism. The accommodation should include establishing regional autonomies through federalism and above all allowing co-identities alongside national identities. The study concludes that the states should forge national consensus for peace, development and prosperity for their people to eschew violence ethnic politics, sectarianism and hateful national identities.
... Perubahan sosial dapat difahami menerusi pelbagai aliran teori. Terdapat sekurangkurangnya enam perspektif teoritikal menawarkan pemahaman mengenai perubahan sosial iaitu aliran Teori Evolusi (Comte, 1840an; Spencer, 1880an); aliran Teori Konflik (Marx 1867 ;Weber 1922;Dahrendorf 1959;Coser 1957), aliran Teori Strukturalis-Fungsionalis (Durkheim 1893;Parsons 1951); aliran Teori Modenisasi (Parsons 1951; Hungtington 1968), aliran Teori Kebudayaan (Mead 1970;Toffler 1970), aliran Teori Konflik Generasi (Manheim 1952;Ryder 1965) dan teori Aliran Teori Sistem Dunia (Wallerstein 1974). ...
The urbanization process in Malaysia since 1957 has significantly transformed the role of women in society. Urbanization phenomena have transformed the structure, dynamics, and traditional roles of women within the basic unit of the family. This paper examines how urbanization and social changes in the post-independence period have influenced the shift in women's roles - from traditional domestic functions to becoming key income-generators for their families. The analysis is grounded in Census data and Vital Statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). A review of rapid urban growth from 1957 to 2025 indicates that urbanization has shaped a distinct pattern of increasing women's participation in the labor force and a rise in the proportion of women serving as Heads of Households. Concurrently, data shows a significant upward trend in women's enrollment in higher education (matriculation, colleges, and universities). Additionally, the data reveals a pattern of delayed marriage among working women (aged 27-29) and a tendency towards smaller nuclear family sizes. The profound changes observed between 1957 and 2025 demonstrate that the urbanization process has fundamentally reshaped the role of Malaysian women, transitioning them from traditional domestic roles to primary income-generators for their families. As women's economic roles have expanded, they require a supportive environment and appropriate policies to effectively fulfill their evolving responsibilities. This includes work-life balance initiatives, fair career opportunities, and more equitable distribution of household tasks.
... Weber viewed legitimacy as the fundamental mechanism for organizations to gain recognition through compliance with social norms. He set the tone for the study of institutional compliance [1]. On this basis, Scott proposed the triple institutional pillar framework of regulation, norms, and perceptions, which provided a systematic analytical tool for legitimacy research [2]. ...
The “Belt and Road” initiative has afforded Chinese grain and oil enterprises significant opportunities for global expansion. However, these enterprises encounter considerable challenges in securing organizational legitimacy within host countries. This paper utilizes a three-level coding method grounded in theory, employing Xi’an Aiju Group as a case study. The research refines an “institutional-social-operational-sustainable four-dimensional synergistic legitimacy dynamic model”, unveiling the evolutionary trajectory of legitimacy from “compliance entry” to “symbiotic integration”. The findings suggest that attaining organizational legitimacy is a dynamic process that balances institutional breakthroughs, social symbiosis, capability demonstrations, and strategic bindings. This perspective contributes to a novel theoretical understanding of the mechanisms by which Chinese enterprises secure legitimacy during their global expansion. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into other enterprises’ international practices in countries along the “Belt and Road” route.
... This brings us to the state as an actor. Perspectives that view the state capable of gaining autonomy from economic power are rooted in Weber (1978Weber ( [1922) concept of the "rational bureaucratic state", an ideal type. Weberian scholarship conceptualizes the state as an actor with relative autonomy (Evans et al 1985). ...
Mining operations are often presented to society as comprehensive megaprojects for development. But is that truly the case? How are their environmental impacts anticipated and regulated? Located in the impoverished southern Andes of Peru, the Las Bambas mine accounts for about 2% of global copper production. In contrast to Albert Hirschman’s classic theory of the Hiding Hand in economic development, this mine represents a project where initial ignorance of risks is not necessarily counterbalanced by creative solutions from state officials later on. We examine the processes of environmental regulation and assess the creativity in public policy. The significant alterations to the project and its Environmental Impact Assessment, made without mandatory citizen participation, have contributed to growing social discontent. An Extractivist Hiding Hand ensures the development of resources but little else. In this context, creativity and state capacity are deployed to conceal environmental injustices.
... Key characteristics that define various ethnic groups include ancestry, historical continuity, language, religion, and traditional attire. The concept of the "ethnic group" was introduced into social studies by Weber (1978), who described it as human groups that maintain a subjective belief in common descent, whether based on physical similarities, shared historical experiences such as colonization and migration, or both. This belief plays a crucial role in group formation, regardless of an actual biological connection. ...
... 13 M. Weber túto výrazne vplyvnú definíciu formuloval aj týmto spôsobom: "‚/m/oc'(Macht) je pravdepodobnosť, že jeden aktér v rámci sociálneho vzťahu bude schopný vykonávať vlastnú vôľu aj napriek odporu, bez ohľadu na základ, na ktorom táto pravdepodobnosť spočíva." 14 Weberovo ponímanie moci sa považuje za neutrálne; vládnutie neslúži výhradne všeobecnému blahu a výhradne ani nejakému záujmu; jednoducho tu ide o donucovanie. 15 S. P. Huntington konštatuje, že moc je schopnosť jednotlivca alebo skupiny meniť konanie jednotlivca alebo skupiny. ...
Power is the fundamental concept in social science in the same sense in which Energy is the fundamental concept in physics. (B. Russell). „Public Power“ is a typical polysemic term. The perception of power, as one of the basic conditions for the development of society, but also of other communities (e.g. family, village, association of citizens), is typical of a significant multimeaning, often of a contradictory nature. Correlation between public administration and public power is a fundamental theorem. Power is a necessary condition for organizing, management, administration, or any combined activity. In our terms, we respect the opinion that public power is the power that authoritatively decides on the rights and obligations of subjects, either directly or indirectly. The entity whose rights and obligations are decided by a public authority is not on an equal footing with this authority, and the content of the decision of this authority does not depend on the subject‘s will. On the other hand, it is appropriate to respect the fact that the public power operation of public administration is not reduced only to „classical“ or apparently powerful manifestations of public administration, such as the authoritative imposition of duties, imposition of sanctions, enforcement actions or direct police interventions. Public administration - as a segment of public power - largely performs public administration activities that do not have an authoritarian character, that have the character of services. Public administration also carries out its activities through forms that have a horizontal character. It is appropriate to consider whether the activity of public administration can be generally classified as (i) superior (intervening) activity (public power character), (ii) non-superior (caring) activity (public semi-power character) and (iii) private law activity, which does not have a public administrative character. This hypothesis takes into account the thesis that soft power is power only if it rests on a foundation of hard power (S. P. Huntington). This text is polemical. (Respectable confrontation is perhaps the best source of knowing.)
... Studi komparatif oleh Guo et al. (2022) di sektor publik dan swasta mengungkapkan bahwa penerapan disiplin kerja memiliki dampak yang lebih signifikan pada organisasi sektor publik dibandingkan sektor swasta, dengan peningkatan produktivitas hingga 18,5% ketika kebijakan disiplin diimplementasikan secara konsisten. Hal ini sesuai dengan teori birokrasi Weber yang menekankan pentingnya standarisasi dan aturan yang jelas dalam organisasi pemerintahan (Weber, 1978). ...
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh disiplin kerja dan lingkungan kerja terhadap kinerja karyawan di Dinas Pemuda, Olahraga, dan Pariwisata Kota Samarinda. Disiplin kerja didefinisikan sebagai tingkat kepatuhan karyawan terhadap aturan organisasi, sedangkan lingkungan kerja meliputi aspek fisik dan psikologis yang dapat memengaruhi produktivitas. Penelitian menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan analisis regresi berganda, melibatkan seluruh 75 karyawan ASN di instansi tersebut, menggunakan teknik pengumpulan data berupa kuesioner. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah sampling jenuh. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa baik disiplin kerja (β = 0,384, p < 0,05) maupun lingkungan kerja (β = 0,315, p < 0,05) berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan, baik secara parsial maupun simultan, dengan nilai R² sebesar 0,540. Temuan ini memberikan rekomendasi kepada organisasi untuk meningkatkan kinerja melalui perbaikan kebijakan disiplin kerja dan penciptaan lingkungan kerja yang kondusif. Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada pemahaman teoretis tentang hubungan antara disiplin kerja, lingkungan kerja, dan kinerja karyawan dalam konteks sektor publik, dengan implikasi praktis untuk manajemen sumber daya manusia di organisasi pemerintahan.
In the introduction, we emphasised how the concept of nation has historically been both divisive and unifying. This characteristic makes it one of the most critical aspects of the articulation of the political sphere.
Part I of this article reviews major differences in definitions of the transaction concept by leading authors and some of the difficulties involved in its usage. Part II takes steps towards a new approach, starting with the legal notion of a contract. This identifies a narrower and more specific type of transaction, empowered by both legal forces and non-legal or cultural norms or rules. The sharper and more specific concept of contracting cost is derived. Contracting costs are the costs of obtaining, formulating, negotiating, and administering legal contracts. They do not include the costs of the work and other inputs required to fulfil a specific contractual agreement. Legal contracts are historically specific phenomena, applying only to modern societies with developed legal institutions. By making the analysis more specific, we emphasise factors of greater relevance in modern market economies. In addition to legal sanctions, the law engenders other forms of motivation based on what is perceived to be legitimate legal authority.
This thesis comprises four studies investigating the formation, uses, and interactions of trade union power resources. By applying a longitudinal approach, the studies analyse a variety of outcomes associated with four sources of labour’s power. The aim of this thesis is to explain how the power resources of labour, particularly those of trade unions, have been impacted by neoliberal reforms to institutions and the restructuring of labour markets for a broadly defined working class of wage earners. The main data sources used are original survey data, the Swedish Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the international EU KLEMS database. Study I used data from Swedish surveys spanning 1997 to 2018 to investigate whether changing conditions for trade unions are associated with changing attitudes to trade union-related issues. While union density declined due to structural and institutional shifts, attitudes toward wage negotiation remained stable. Union members favoured collective bargaining. Vulnerable labour market segments showed stronger support for unions. Overall, individuals endorsing union engagement often benefit most from union involvement in employment matters. Study II examined the impact of Ghent system reforms on Swedish union membership from 2007 to 2008. Amidst a notable decline in union density – which has been attributed to tax deduction removal and increased unemployment insurance fees – the study explored the interplay between these reforms and structural changes to the labour market. Analysing data from Swedish LFS identified two main factors that contribute to the decline: changes in labour force composition and direct Ghent system effects, which especially affected exposed worker categories. The results reveal cyclical union density patterns, disrupted by Ghent system changes, with increased temporary and younger employees driving the decline, particularly in specific sectors. Study III’s point of departure is from previous research that found that individuals typically join unions before the age of 35. This trend is most notable among younger employees, often in sectors that have high atypical employment and lack union representation. Previous studies focused on fixed individual characteristics when analysing membership likelihood, overlooking how employment paths, like transitioning from temporary to permanent roles, affect union density and membership. This study examines how job sequences influence youth union membership using Swedish labour data. The findings reveal varied effects based on age and time, with stable permanent contracts promoting membership and younger workers showing lower commitment due to limited labour market exposure. In particular, full-time students and workers drifting between spells of unemployment, employment, and studies are less likely to choose union membership and commit over the long term, with institutional changes to the Ghent system mediating these effects. Study IV departs from the fact that advanced economies have seen a decline in the wage share compared to profits. This decline is influenced by factors like decreasing union density and collective bargaining coverage. However, the impact varies based on institutional contexts. Analysing data from 22 OECD countries, the study explored how labour market institutions and wage-setting mechanisms affect income distribution across skill groups. Union density increases the wage share, especially where statutory minimum wages are absent, while the effect of collective bargaining is more nuanced. Statutory minimum wages benefit medium- and low-skilled workers but negatively interact with collective bargaining for medium-skilled groups. The findings highlight how wage-setting institutions influence outcomes for workers, offering key insights for balancing collective bargaining and statutory wage policies to promote equitable income distribution. The main conclusions from these studies point to the complexity of interactions between the power resources of the working class of wage earners. Of importance is also an implied resistance to neoliberal reforms to institutions to maintain unions’ power resources or to rely on other sources of power when institutional power diminishes, as well as a general shift in the class-based power dynamics in industrial relations. White-collar professionals and academics in Sweden have increased their bargaining power while the power of blue-collar workers has declined, suggesting an increasingly fragmented worker movement. At a broader level, the dynamic between capital and labour has shifted in capital’s favour as the share of wages in relation to profits are in decline, suggesting labour is unlikely to improve the wage share unless collective bargaining or adequate statutory minimum wages are introduced, highlighting the need for a nuanced approach to wage regulation.
This introductory chapter provides an overview of the three scientific studies conducted as part of this work. It embeds the research questions in an overall context, clarifies the aims and structure of the work and integrates the findings of the individual studies. The chapter closes with an outlook for future research.
敬畏是一种对浩瀚的刺激以及现有心理结构无法适应的刺激的情感反应。大量实证证据显示, 敬畏可以促进各种形式的亲社会行为。至于其中的心理机制, 小我假说认为, 诱发敬畏体验的浩瀚刺激会导致自我的渺小感, 推动个体的注意力从自我转移至他人, 进而促进了亲社会行为; 真我假说则认为, 敬畏有助于促进个体的注意力从日常的世俗关注向更大的精神存在转移, 激发了个体对其真实自我的追求, 进而促进了亲社会行为。小我与真我假说可以在“大二”框架下进行整合, 即敬畏在自我的能动维度(真我)和共生维度(小我)上通过两条平行的路径促进亲社会行为的产生。未来研究需要更深入地探讨敬畏的亲社会效应的心理机制, 并在此基础上开发出促进捐赠等亲社会行为的干预措施, 以期为第三次分配战略的有效实施提供心理学方案。
This study aims to examine the reform of the execution of Supreme Court decisions in order to create a more responsive and efficient judiciary. The background of this research is driven by findings that the execution of Supreme Court decisions in Indonesia still faces various obstacles, both procedural and institutional, leading to delays in the implementation of court decisions. The research method used is a qualitative approach with an in-depth literature review and interviews with legal practitioners. The findings of the study indicate that the main obstacles in the execution of decisions lie in the misalignment between existing regulations and their implementation in practice, complex bureaucracy, and the lack of coordination among related institutions. The implications of this research point to the need for procedural reform, improvement of human resource quality, and the utilization of information technology to enhance the efficiency and transparency of decision execution. This study suggests that public participation in monitoring the execution process could also increase the accountability of the judicial system in Indonesia.
Against the intensifying mismatch between urban and rural land resources, activating farmers’ intentions to revitalize their idle homesteads is a key issue in optimizing land resource allocation and promoting urban–rural integrated development. However, existing studies mostly focus on the marginal effect of a single factor and ignore the synergistic effect of multiple factors, making it difficult to reveal the complex causal logic of farmers’ decision-making. This study aims to explain the causal asymmetry and equivalent path problem in farmers’ revitalized decision-making by capturing the multidimensional interaction mechanism of “external stimulus–mental cognition”. This study integrates the social stratification theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework to systematically explore how the interactive configuration of farmer differentiation and cognition from a multidimensional perspective drives the formation of farmers’ willingness to engage in high inventory activities, based on the 881 farmer research data in Shaanxi Province, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) methodology. This study found that (1) a single condition cannot independently explain the intentions of farmers to revitalize, and its formation needs to rely on the synergistic linkage of multiple conditions; (2) the configuration of farmers’ high intentions to revitalize includes “wealth capital differentiation–dual cognitive-driven type”, “single cognitive-driven type”, “reputation capital differentiation–single cognitive-driven type”, “wealth capital differentiation–single cognitive-driven type”, which wealth capital differentiation is the common core condition triggering high intention; and (3) the formation of farmers’ low revitalization intentions stems from the insufficient differentiation of farmers and the lack of cognitive elements. Therefore, policymakers should take a holistic perspective in enhancing farmers’ revitalization intentions, focusing on the rational allocation between farmer differentiation and farmers’ cognition.
Catastrophes like the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent stringent lockdown have profoundly
impacted individuals worldwide, with India notably affected. Regarded as one of the most significant
natural disasters in history, the pandemic prompted numerous countries, including India, to implement
lockdown measures to mitigate the spread of the deadly infection. However, the aftermath has revealed
an economic crisis across both organized and unorganized sectors, severely affecting the means of
livelihood. Daily wage earners were among those most severely affected. Against this backdrop, this
study endeavors to explore the lived experiences of daily wage workers amidst the Covid-19 lockdown
in rural Kashmir. It focuses on understanding how the lockdown disrupted their lives and livelihoods.
Adopting a phenomenological approach, the research aims to grasp the essence of the participants' lived
experiences in-depth. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 14 participants (aged 36 - 52),
including two females. The findings reveal the severe challenges faced by daily wage workers during
the lockdown, including hunger and other hardships. The repercussions extend beyond physical health,
including job loss, heightened anxiety, increased interpersonal conflicts, and incidents of child abuse,
thus exacerbating the distressing circumstances faced by this vulnerable population. This study
highlights the urgent need for targeted relief programs and robust social safety nets to support daily
wage workers during crises. Integrating economic aid with mental health support and educational
resources is crucial to addressing the multilayered impacts of such crises on marginalized groups.
Focusing on the intersection of economic instability, mental stress, family violence, and educational
disruption, it underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these complex challenges
and mitigate the adverse effects on marginalized sections of society.
How does status dissatisfaction shape a state’s behavior? Existing literature suggests that mistreatment and misconception by the great powers could elicit a state’s revisionist conduct. Yet, this unidimensional understanding of international audiences fails to distinguish two distinct groups: those superiorly positioned above the state and those subordinately positioned below it on the status hierarchy. Focusing on two sources of status—recognition from above and deference from below—I propose a two-dimensional framework of multiple audiences dynamic that generates four ideal types of status scenarios. These include satisfaction (high recognition and high deference); unaccommodating elite group (low recognition and high deference); contestation from below (high recognition and low deference); and unaccommodating status quo (low recognition and low deference). I illustrate my framework by examining China’s shifting response to the emerging global environmental regime from 1950 to 1972. Beijing’s status concerns vis-à-vis the United States, the USSR, and the Third World countries induced it to change from initial embracement (1950–1952), challenge from within (1953–1955), persistent objection (1956–1970), to competitive participation (1971–1972) in the United Nations Conference on Human Environment (UNCHE).
Social psychological theory has made a number of important contributions to how we think about organisational life, from the way in which work is designed to the relationship between managers and employees. This chapter outlines a number of concerns that social psychology has been uncritically accepted without interrogating some important assumptions. We present how critical perspectives on the application of social psychology to work raise some important issues for scholars. Starting with a review of existing critiques, we explore how labour process and social theory can be used to as a basis to develop new lines of research in critical social psychology. The final section reports on the recent popularity of positive psychology and its psychologisation of workplace problems.
This chapter first traces the historical development of national education in Hong Kong, exploring how national education has become a tricky yet urgent issue. Hong Kong was a colony of Britain and now is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. In the colonial period when Hong Kong was under the governance of Britain, the term “nation” was rarely used because the British government adopted a de-politicized approach to education and discouraged Hong Kong people from thinking of Hong Kong as a nation or a place that is part of China. After 1997, when Hong Kong was handed over to China, national education was emphasized by the Chinese government to promote the idea that Hong Kong and China are inseparable and that people in Hong Kong should consider themselves Chinese. However, this government effort has faced resistance in Hong Kong, as many social movements in the last decade have demonstrated. Given that national education is a complex and broad term that contains multiple concepts and dimensions, this chapter then critically examines related concepts (e.g., Chinese diaspora, national identity, Chineseness, and patriotism) and various dimensions (e.g., political, cultural, ethnic, racial, geographical, and historical) of national education in Hong Kong over time. This chapter provides a historical context, conceptual distinction, and analytical basis for this book to focus on the government’s position on and approach to national education in Hong Kong.
Slang, being one of the means of communication in the society, has been very useful to many, especially those who understand the purpose of communicating with it. In higher institutions, many students use slangs to pass information to their friends. However, some only use slang without understanding the various communicative values. The present study investigated slang expression among English students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus with the aim of examining the usefulness of slangy expressions as used by students in COOU, Igbariam campus. The study was anchored on Sociolinguistic Variation Theory propounded by William Labov because of its relatedness. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. 100 respondents were randomly selected from a pool of students after the objective of the study was explained. Data collected were analyzed using mean rating. The findings of the study showed that there are different slangs used by the students and these slangs help them to pass information without exposing the content of the information to the public. Based on the findings, the study concluded that slangs have different communicative values, especially in the higher institutions. The study therefore, recommended that schools should incorporate the understanding of slang into language education to broaden students' awareness of cultural and social aspects of language. By recognizing and studying slang, educators can foster a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to language diversity.
Modern society is structured as a social hierarchy, where individuals occupying a higher position enjoy various advantages. Many theoreticians have attempted to quantify social hierarchy, and one of the modern ones, Pierre Bourdieu, claimed that the hierarchy can be viewed through an individual’s three intertwined yet separate types of capital: economic capital (the individual’s material resources), cultural capital (their level of education), and social capital (their social connections with others). Likewise, it is known that acquiring higher education (greater cultural capital) is positively correlated with an increase in a person’s income (economic capital). Our study aims to examine whether there are differences between two groups of the Arab population residing in Israel – Muslim and Christian, in guiding their children to acquire higher education, as viewed through the prism of the three types of capital. It is roughly known that the Christian population is at an advantage compared to the Muslim population in Israel, in their accumulation of the three types of capital. To check this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative study including in-depth interviews with two population groups (15 members of each group): one of the Muslim faith, the other of the Christian faith. Each religious group was divided into two more groups: high social class and low social class. We compared the four research groups and found that indeed there are significant differences in how each group guides their children to acquire higher education, a phenomenon which could deepen the existing inequality in Israeli society in general and within the Arab society specifically.
Georg Picht’s theory of the “educational catastrophe” (Bildungskatastrophe) and Ralf Dahrendorf’s related perspectives on social inequalities in education serve as key reference points for analyzing the realities of European education. This study explores the significance of these theories, focusing on their historical development and contemporary reception. Through a critical review of the literature, it highlights the ways in which the original insights of Picht and Dahrendorf continue to hold relevance, especially during periods of educational crises and restructuring. Although these theories appeared to lose their immediate influence during the era of European integration and educational reforms, the resurgence of inequalities demonstrates the enduring pertinence of their original diagnoses. Despite the European Union’s policies aiming to balance opportunities, social constraints continue to produce disparities in access to and quality of education. Analyzing the chronological evolution of their theories reveals the cyclical nature of educational crises. Inequalities and inefficiencies in educational systems resurface in new forms, raising questions about the sustainability of contemporary European strategies. Reexamining the theories of Picht and Dahrendorf, not as outdated findings but as tools for understanding recurring problems, may help identify the factors that continue to threaten education in both Germany and a unified Europe. Policies of evaluation and privatization have exacerbated disparities in educational access, hindering the formation of a truly equitable educational system. Although Europe has moved away from the extreme “catastrophic” educational practices of the past, the need for substantial reform remains pressing. Creating an inclusive educational system that incorporates targeted social policies, funding for the most vulnerable groups, and reforms oriented toward equal opportunities is a critical prerequisite for securing a fairer and more effective educational future in Europe. Such an approach is essential to prevent a new “educational catastrophe” in Europe.
Drawing on one year of ethnographic fieldwork with state officials implementing a development programme for Indigenous farmers in southern Chile, I show how anxieties are generated in a context of increased accountability and labour precarity and how the materiality of bureaucracy plays a role in this process. By showing how state officials hired under flexible fixed-term contracts deal with documents and signatures, I challenge the notion of the indifferent bureaucrat. Rather than portraying state officials as disinterested or indifferent, I illustrate how those in unstable job positions depend on generating an official paper trail to secure ongoing employment. Ethnographically, the article highlights the affective dimensions of bureaucratic practices, emphasising how the pressure to meet deadlines and ensure the timely validation of documents produces anxiety, and shapes the everyday experiences and futures of these officials.
This article shows how an arrangement of divine justification has led the popular culture of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) to incite violent actions towards the charismatisation and imaginary connection of God, Caliph and territory. ISIS’s discourse includes the mental reconstruction of the world map using imaginary geographies of God and evil. This research expands the geopolitical literature related to discourses of terrorism. It shows how representations of God’s succession on earth can employ the use of religious justifications for violent territoriality through disruption of the world’s territorial order. The research methodology is based on critical discourse analysis to deconstruct the dominant images created by ISIS’s popular culture. The research data is analysed in three ways: 1) Examining the discourse of ISIS leaders by referring to speeches and writings, 2) Comprehensive review of 15 volumes of Dabiq magazine and 3) Using previous geopolitical literature related to ISIS and terrorism for broader analysis. The results of the research show that ISIS, in addition to the thick use of violent geopolitical actions for material territoriality, used the media, rhetoric and spatial imagination by integrating thin spiritual justifications to increase its discursive power to mobilise more followers and build a divine image of itself.
How can a populist leader make the claim ‘I’m not a politician’ while competing for or even holding the highest political office? And if populist leaders are not politicians, as they claim not to be, then what are they in the minds of their supporters? To answer these questions, this article focuses on the antipolitics of right-wing populist movements. We argue that the negative moral connotations that politics itself has in the minds of many populist supporters compel populist leaders to appropriate nonpolitical symbolism to separate themselves from the ‘corrupt’ political sphere. We then show how right-wing populists posit the family and familial rule as a counter-ideal for societal organization and a preferable alternative to the ‘corrupt’ world of politics and political rule. Right-wing populist efforts to restructure the political realm after the familial realm helps explain some of its most distinctive features, such as ostentatious nepotism, norm-breaking, and anti-pluralism.
Organizational leadership in the 21st century is experiencing profound transformations due to digitalization, globalization, and the need to manage diverse workforces. This chapter explores modern leadership paradigms, theoretical foundations, key competencies, and practical applications vital for today's complex organizational landscapes. It covers the evolution of leadership theories, the impact of digital transformation, and the significance of emotional intelligence, technological proficiency, agility, and ethical responsibility. The chapter also discusses virtual leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cybersecurity awareness, presenting case studies of successful and failed leadership. Future trends, including AI integration and sustainability, are examined, providing valuable insights for scholars, educators, and practitioners in contemporary organizational leadership.
This, the first of four chapters on value-flows in public services, analyses services for the elderly beginning with a brief historical look at old age (a social construction) and how longevity and quality of ageing have benefitted from public service use-values leading to a critique of Social Darwinism’s naturalisation of capitalism and its social relations. While neoliberals alternatively emphasise ageing populations as a problem of dependency ratios and non-productive labour, for socialists ageing is an achievement of public services (including technological advances in housing, diet and healthcare) refuting Malthus’ pessimistic predictions and instead viewing ageing as an opportunity for dis-alienating leisure pursuits, including activities benefiting other citizens enjoying the benefits of lifetime contributions into welfare funds. Capitalism exploits the elderly often with financial services products and commodities designed for profit not use-value aiming to monetise the elderly, while in developing countries, elderly people can face the same social murder Engels analysed in the 1840s Britain. The chapter concludes with policy discussion on high-quality ageing and avoiding an aged industrial reserve army of labour.
Marx focused on the exchange-value of commodities: he was concerned to show that capitalism expropriates surplus-value while being crisis prone. This chapter unpacks the other part of his definition of commodity (use-value) meaning useful wealth solving problems, utilising the gifts of nature, for example housing, transport and education. It shows how individual use-values (UVs) from public services aggregate to form public value (PV), now often the dominant form of value production. UV=PV and can be measured (using objective and subjective metrics) as an alternative to crude and problematic GDP, PV can be created by migrating citizen valueS-2-value. Rejecting the neoliberal argument in public management theory that service users, not providers, create value, the chapter shows through examples how democratic planning can better release the potential of technology and innovations in services than privatisation, supporting Jansson’s (The economics of services—micro-foundations, development and policy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2013) argument for higher taxation and expansion of HEC.
Over their long history, some public–private partnerships (PPPs) create use-values benefiting citizens while others are simply profit oriented, at worst exploiting neoliberal state-corrupted capitalist processes and inhibiting the planning and integration of public services—some PPPs are more exploitative than others. By exploring the stock and flow of value arising from PPPs and contrasting public service mutuality with private ownership and control, the chapter explores models of risk transfer, use of private sector finance and expertise citing detailed cases from Scotland, pointing to formalised compulsory competitive tending, corrupt contracts (buy two, get one) and the false consciousness believing private is more efficient and effective than public. The chapter critiques modern monetary theory, the use of PPPs to substitute for what should be public services, their use in development economics to tie aid and finance to developed country contractors and the scandal of signing away rights to natural capital in PPP contracts exchanging future-value for low-value present payments.
This is the first of five exploring public services strategically and begins by analysing the changing nature of the welfare state: the state as value creating, the state as value distributing—a battle for reforms; the state as the executive committee of the ruling class and the state and public value (PV) production and distribution. Under each heading, key ideas from research and bourgeois theory are criticised from a Marxist viewpoint and the relevance of ideas and policies to developing countries pointed out, contrasting welfare states in Africa, Asia and Nordic countries. From a Marxist value-flow perspective, new public management is critiqued with issues of inequality and responsibility considered.
Nature is constantly changing: to understand why and how we need to appreciate the history, context and how ecosystems interoperate, sometimes in conflict. Marx views these as dialectical processes, similar to social dialectical change—the difference being human consciousness to direct social change. This chapter explains how protecting the natural environment (Marx’s metabolic rift) is central to his system and concepts including UV. It illustrates how dialectics and historical materialism can be used to solve every day or big problems in public services arguing that it is ‘markets solve everything’ thinking that introduces determinism into human affairs, whereas we can improve our lives by directing and promoting change in public service solutions to problems: UVs. Problem-solving has a critical role to play in defending our global natural environment from negative externalities of private capital by more closely linking cities and countryside. Using Marx’s framework and concepts such as UV, and nature as matter-in-motion, a rich theoretical and practical approach is outlined and demonstrated by example, to better linking public services with the natural environment.
Marx is ambivalent about science and technology seeing the potential for improving life quality, reducing demands from nature and abundance while noting their potential alienating labour processes and job losses. Capitalism makes science a commodity, Marx says, guiding breakthroughs towards for-profit technologies instead of meeting human needs: applying the social brain to solving social problems. Replacing value-creating labour by capital machines causes the rate of profit to fall resulting in crises and misery. He says, technology uses the knowledge from dead generations of workers to exploit living labour. This chapter clarifies productive labour, critiques work by Wood, Kuhn, Schumpeter, Landes, Castells and Yeoman’s idealism and finds no class content in the work of Penrose and Soete while highlighting contributions to understanding science by Needham, Cauldwell and Bernal. Applying triple helix to developing countries is criticised. Public services already benefit from technology such as robotic surgery, IT and AI and gene editing; however, it can subjugate staff into mind-numbing work, underlining the need for democratic planning at workplace level on the direction and benefits of technological innovations and avoiding deterministic technology-oriented change. The principle of ‘from each according to their ability, to each according to his work’ is unpacked.
This chapter explores the role of public services in transitions from one mode of production to another, including from capitalism to socialism, emphasising the contribution of use-values (UVs) created outside the market sphere by households, the 3S and some PPPs. It emphasises the critical importance of rich democracy to successful transitions while the nature of transition will vary depending on history, context and culture. A meta-level exploration of transitions, including in Asiatic modes of production, prominently features public services as both a means and ends towards a socialist society with the capitalist state acting as barrier to fundamental transition. The chapter argues that the struggle for reforms, conducted not in a reformist manner but highlighting the need for fundamental socio-economic change, can demonstrate using active democracy and providing use-values the market is not interested in, can exploit the redundancy of capitalism shown by continuous wars, rising inequality and misery and now austerity and cutbacks in public services. It emphasises how fighting for better public services can raise consciousness of the desirability and possibility of a society in which worker’s democracy and high-quality public services occupy the dominant role.
This article examines how familial ties and kinship networks shape the class conditions of migrants in their host country. Using data from 61 semi-structured interviews with Filipino migrant nurses in Ireland, we examine the connection between familial social networks and their socioeconomic conditions in the host society. We argue that kinship ties and their local contexts continue to impinge on migrants' class position and class conditions in their destination country. The paper highlights the interconnections between complex social relations, social spaces, and class systems in shaping migrant social mobility in the destination country. It illustrates how class backgrounds in the home country are reproduced through their kinship ties. It also argues that while social ties are usually predicated on positive emotional bonds, some produce negative consequences that impede or delay the social mobility of migrants. Conversely, some social ties help migrants achieve their middle-class aspirations ahead of others.
The administrative function of strategic supervision is a manifestation of the Zeitgeist that informs the current global economic order. This changing order is characterised by the increasing repoliticisation of the economy, in contrast to the tendency promoted by the neo-liberal agenda and driven by the European integration process to disentangle politics from economics. Against this background, this paper attempts to identify the legal proprium of strategic supervision for security reasons through a comparison with the regulatory function, an expression of the theoretical paradigm of the regulatory state long at the heart of the European economic constitution. The conceptualisation of an autonomous function endowed with its own purposes, competences, attributions, and addressees lays the groundwork for analysing the functional and normative implications of Europeanisation on strategic supervision, now exercised by domestic public powers within a Europeanised regulatory space.
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