Labour law after neoliberalism?

Dukes, R. and Streeck, W. (2023) Labour law after neoliberalism? Journal of Law and Society, 50(2), pp. 165-184. (doi: 10.1111/jols.12423)

Abstract

Over the course of the past 40 years, neoliberalism has all but destroyed the institutions that once civilized labour markets. In the wake of that destruction, labour law reform is being driven in some jurisdictions by a new kind of right-wing populist politics. What does this hold in store for work relations? Our investigation of contemporary labour law begins with a brief look backwards to the pre- and post-war decades and to the ostensible depoliticization of the law under neoliberalism. We then consider the possible emergence of a distinctly right-wing populist approach to labour law in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland, drawing comparisons with the German experience after neocorporatism. Finally, we take a normative turn and consider what steps ought to be taken by a government intent on addressing class inequalities and restoring the kind of rights that post-war democracies once conferred on workers understood to be industrial citizens.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dukes, Professor Ruth
• Authors: Dukes, R., and Streeck, W.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Journal Name: Journal of Law and Society
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0263-323X
• ISSN (Online): 1467-6478
• Published Online: 17 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Law and Society 50(2):165-184
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
302380		Work on Demand: Contracting for Work in a Changing Economy	Ruth Dukes	European Research Council (ERC)	757359	Law