Kognitiver Kapitalismus : Wider eine fragwuerdige Diagnose

Sociologists of work necessarily recognise the intimate connections between transformations of capitalism and trends in the labour process and employment relations. Such connections are a central inheritance from the classical sociology of Durkheim, Marx and Weber. Though the rise of postmodernism, with its emphasis on culture, language and identity has loosened such ties, the inter-relations remain in contemporary social theory from Castells to Beck and back. In this short article the theme is capitalism at work. The argument is that contemporary social theory has generally put forward deeply flawed conceptions of the pathways between capitalist political economy and work/employment relations. The article begins with a brief commentary on some of Ithe general characteristics of social theory concerning the workings of capitalism, before a more detailed exposition and critique of an increasingly influential variant – cognitive capitalism. Drawing on our own and other labour process research, within that critique, we offer some observations towards a more realistic picture of capitalism at work, including the importance of financialization of the economy

Actually existing capitalism : some digital delusions

Contemporary labour process analysis (LPA) emphasises the intimate connections between transformations of capitalism and trends in work and employment. Within social theory influential images of labour such as Reich’s (1993) symbolic analysts or Castell’s (1996) self-programmable workers, ultimately derive from conception of the broader economy, in this case informational capitalism or the knowledge economy. Their diagnosis is based on the following assumptions. First, the sources of profit, productivity and power in the new economy are said to be (variously) intangible, immaterial or weightless (knowledge, creativity, information, intellectual assets). Digital products are reproducible at low cost for high returns, enabling capitalism to overcome scarcity and ‘the limits of time and space’ (Castells 2001, p. 5). Second, that knowledge-intensive, intellectual or professional work is either in the majority or becoming the majority in advanced post-industrial societies. Third, there has been a decisive shift of power from capital to labour given that ‘(knowledge) ‘remains with the employee and in no real sense is it ever of the firm. It is impossible to separate knowledge from the knower’ (Despres and Hiltrop, 1995, p. 11). Fourth, that traditional, hierarchical structures and practices of management are no longer appropriate, with the best practice being to hire talented people, then leave them alone (Florida 2002, p. 132). Fifth, corporate forms have mutated into decentralised, flat, networked organisations. Extensive critique of these claims have been made elsewhere and we will not repeat them here (Thompson et al 2001; Thompson and Harley 2012). What we do want to do is look in more detail at a related, but newer version that comes under the heading of cognitive capitalism, in part because it will facilitate a more extended engagement with issues of digital industries and labour

Europa en la cartografía medieval

Abstract not availabl

Sexual and Reproductive Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from a Cross-Sectional Online Survey in Germany

The accumulated evidence maps the COVID-19 pandemic's diverse impacts on sexual and reproductive health (SRH);however, the precise changes in sexual behaviours and the underlying causes producing these changes are rarely considered. This study is aimed at assessing the changes in sexual behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, using quantitative methods, and it is also aimed at identifying the underlying reasons, using qualitative methods. It is a part of the broader I-SHARE project, which administered a cross-sectional online survey in 33 countries to describe the effects of the COVID-19 restrictions on different aspects of SRH. In the current study, a total of 611 adults from Germany are included. The findings demonstrate a decline in sexual satisfaction, as well as increases in sexual problems and partnership conflicts. Furthermore, the findings indicate an increase in pornography consumption and masturbation. Psychological stress, due to the pandemic, seemed to be the main reason for the changes in the participants' sexual behaviours, followed by a decrease in social contacts, and an increase in time resources. Thus, it is important to provide accessible clinical and psychosocial (online) interventions and services in order to maintain good sexual health in times of pandemic

Welcome in the machine. Human-machine relations and knowledge capture

This paper discusses new technologies in regards to their potential to capture workers’ situated knowledge. Machines are said to substitute but also to contribute to the labour process in collaboration with human skill sets. ‘Industry 4.0’ became the policy-wide shorthand to describe the new quality of real time interconnectedness and feedback loops, known as cyber-physical systems (CPS) within industry and engineering sciences. Data flows generated in these systems are used to continuously improve work processes by extracting information down to the very micro level of neuroergonomics. In this process, workers’ interactions with the system are extracted, feed back and processed for future use and improvement. The paper argues that in addition to the potential for extraction of new (bodily) knowledge, shifting skill use, and the potential for new forms of control, new technologies contain the potential to extract situated knowledge owned by the worker and crucial for resistance and collective struggles

Pharmacological treatment of patients with paraphilic disorders and risk of sexual offending: An international perspective

Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate existing policy and practice relating to the use of pharmacological treatments with patients suffering from paraphilic disorders who are at risk of committing further sexual offences. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to document current legal policies across 26 different countries. In addition, a questionnaire assessing the practice of pharmacological treatment was sent to practitioners involved in the treatment of patients with paraphilic disorders. Results: Legal policies concerning the preconditions of using pharmacological treatments differ considerably between countries, and for most jurisdictions do not exist. Drawing on the responses of 178 practitioners, pharmacological agents are a useful addition to psychotherapeutic interventions, especially with those patients classified as medium or high risk for sexually violent behaviours. It would appear that most patients are medically examined, are informed of the risks and possible side effects before treatment commences and are also obliged to sign a consent form. Conclusions: Although pharmacological agents can be seen as an intrusion into a patients’ sexual self determination, results indicate that ethical and clinical standards are being met in the majority of cases. However, further promotion of current WFSBP treatment guidelines would help to standardise practice across North American and European countries

Editorial: psychological dimensions in human sexual health and behavior

Human sexuality is still an underexplored world, subjected to great taboos and controversies over the decades, representing one of the most challenging areas of research and facing countless political and social demands. In this sense, leading organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) and the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS, 2014) have established sexual health and well-being as human rights and key goals to be achieved worldwide to improve the health-related quality of life. The newmessage that is being carried out by these entities, is that sexual health not only concerns reproductive issues, sexual problems, sexual violence, and sexually transmitted infections, but also positive aspects related to intimate relationships, pleasure, consenting sexual relationships, gender and sexual orientation variety, and sexual functioning among other aspects