A nova sociedade mundial do trabalho: para além de centro e periferia?

Abstract

This thesis presents an outline for a new theory of worldwide society of work. The main questions are: (1) Do we still live in a society of work? (2) Can we theorize about a worldwide society of work? (3) Is there a worldwide society? (4) If so, is there a worldwide society changed? (5) To what extent social changes of such society, themed by much of the current dominant sociology, can be considered half-truths and to what extent are empirical sociological phenomena? (6) Can the center-periphery dichotomy still be used? How? The confrontation of such questions is unfolded in six points, organized in the first six chapters of the thesis. That is, a new worldwide theory of the work needs to articulate theory and empirical research from the following points: (1) if we're talking in a worldwide society, it is no longer possible to make a theory of work, of the class and the inequality restricted to the theoretical and political boundaries of the "methodological nationalism" (Chapter 1, with Ulrich Beck); (2) this new theory must discuss social changes of contemporary work (Chapter 2, with Claus Offe, Ulrich Beck and André Gorz); (3) the confrontation of contemporary attempts of replacement of the work paradigm is needed, among which the theory of the knowledge society will be debated (Chapter 3); (4) a worldwide theory of work must include the periphery of capitalism and its new relationship with its traditional heartland. For that reason, the thesis of "brasilization of the West", by Ulrich Beck will be discussed (Chapter 4); (5) a theory of worldwide society of work must face the social issue in its contemporary global dimension, which will be made from the work of Robert Castel (Chapter 5); (6) the theory of worldwide society of work needs to be articulated to a new theory of classes in the contemporary capitalism (Chapter 6). This chapter presents qualitative empirical material collected in Brazil and Germany. Finally, Chapter 7 presents, in collected numbers from experts of the brazilian sociology of work, of inequality and class, a brief overview of social changes of the work in the contemporary Brazil.