Dimensions of collectivism: occupation, community and the increasing role of memory and personal dynamics in the debate

Abstract

This essay argues that the notion of there being a decline in collectivism does not adequately engage with a whole new set of initiatives within labour process theory on collectivism in its various forms. These debates demonstrate how diverse social influences and experiences, and the memory of previous experiences and collective endeavours, are essential features that must be acknowledged in terms of their implications. There are series of interventions on occupational identity, the everyday lives of workers, gender and ethnic relations and the experience of work that nourish our understanding of collectivism as a more complex and broader concept. Furthermore, how features and relations are mobilized, linked and developed is becoming a vital feature of how collectivism should be understood. It is argued that the nature of these relations needs to be a greater focus of the debate if we are to develop a more dynamic view of collectivism, and a more relevant one.

Prescribed journeys through life: Cultural differences in mental time travel between Middle Easterners and Scandinavians

“…Likewise, the association between gender roles and collectivism is rarely explored (McBride & Lucio, 2011). Based on the current findings, we speculate that both gender roles and religion structure future mental time travel.…”

Collective action and provider classification in the sharing economy

“…Collectivism, as discussed by McBride and Martinez Lucio (), remains a flexible and rich concept within the study of work and workers. Collective action, whether online or offline, nevertheless requires a sense of collective identity and a subjective awareness of a worker's own collective power to pursue their interests (Kelly, ; Hyman, ).…”

To What Extent Does the Ideological Construct of Collectivism Continue to Govern the British Trade Union and Labour Movement?

“…This is what recent social scientists have referred to as mobilisation theory (Cregan & Bartram & Stanton, 2009;Kelly, 1998;Martin, 1999;McBride & Lucio, 2011). In order for trade unions to achieve their goals, the social movement must build up strength by acquiring control of resources needed for action.…”

“…Where unions were perceived as effective in improving wages and conditions employee's displayed stronger collectivist attitudes. More recently, work by McBride and Lucio (2011) states that the term has become more flexible. Within their study they note that the memories of individuals have become an important feature in the development of a collectivist character.…”

“…This means that collectivism has not declined but can emerge from diverse experiences within the workplace and external social dimensions. Traditional forms of union collectivism have been viewed as damaging to these external social dimensions which has affected worker identification with trade unionism (McBride & Lucio, 2011;Tomlinson & Stuart & Lucio, 2013). They conclude that the trade unions need to act as a supportive structure to draw these social dimensions together in order to mobilise them beyond social-coping mechanisms (McBride & Lucio, 2011).…”