Productive restructuring and the reallocation of work and employment: a survey of the “new” forms of social inequality

O propósito do presente artigo consiste em questionar a inevitabilidade dos processos de segmentação e precarização das relações de trabalho e emprego, responsáveis pela inscrição de “novas” formas de desigualdade social que alicerçam o actual modelo de desenvolvimento das economias e sociedades. Visa-se criticar os limites da lógica econômica e financeira, de contornos globais, que configuram um “novo espírito do capitalismo”, ou seja, uma espécie de divinização da ordem natural das coisas. Impõe-se fazer, por isso, um périplo analítico pelas transformações em curso no mercado de trabalho, acompanhado pela vigilância epistemológica que permita enquadrar e relativizar as (di)visões neoliberais e teses tecnodeterministas dominantes. A perspectivação de cenários sobre o futuro do trabalho encerrará este périplo, permitindo-nos alertar para os condicionalismos histórico-temporais, para a urgência de se desocultar o que de ideológico e político existe nas actuais lógicas de racionalização e para os processos de ressimbolização do trabalho e emprego enquanto “experiência social central” na contemporaneidade.The scope of this paper is to question the inevitability of the processes of segmentation and increased precariousness of the relations of labor and employment, which are responsible for the introduction of “new” forms of social inequality that underpin the current model of development of economies and societies. It seeks to criticize the limits of global financial and economic logic, which constitute a “new spirit of capitalism,” namely a kind of reverence for the natural order of things. It is therefore necessary to conduct an analytical survey of the ongoing changes in the labor market, accompanied by epistemological vigilance which makes it possible to see neoliberal (di)visions and dominant technodeterministic theses in context. The enunciation of scenarios on the future of work will conclude this survey and will make it possible to draw attention to both the historical and temporal constraints and to the urgent need to unveil what is ideological and political in the prevailing logic of rationalization and processes to reinstate work and employment as a “central social experience” in contemporary times

The prospects for the water management framework in the Douro, Portugal

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has represented a unique opportunity to enhance the regulatory capacity of public agencies and restore the ecological condition of water bodies in the European Union. This paper examines the experience of translating the new Directive into practical policy-making in the Douro River Catchment in the north of Portugal. Regional development and the evolution of water management are initially described, which then inform the assessment of the achievements and failures of the new regulatory regime. The higher level of concern for environmental impacts and the integration of responses that follow the WFD can be identified as positive steps in the direction of resolving lasting water management problems. However, the translation of the Directive into national legislation has also reinforced techno-bureaucratic practices and politico-economic centralisation, as well as led to various forms of contestation and protest. It is suggested that two main reasons account for those difficulties: the sociospatial rigidity (i.e. the fragmented and static understanding of ecological and social interactions) and the monotonic categorisation of water management issues (i.e. upfront decisions with limited scope for innovation and creativity at the local level). Overall, the success of the WFD seems to fundamentally depend on the ability to perceive the broader socionatural complexity of water management and on the pursuit of more effective forms of negotiation and social inclusion

Presentation to the Dossier: political repertoires in transnational labor struggles and new forms of global labor governance

Despite the concerns about wages and the increase in the quality of life of the working classhaving acquired a historical centrality in the struggle repertoires designed at national level, theambition of internationalist solidarity and the emancipation of the forms of collective organization of workers has always been an end in yourself. In the light of current times, it is an ambitionthat can be witnessed in the way that the trends of globalization and contemporary neoliberalismdemand adequate and organized responses, sharing experiences, contributions to new formsof global governance, more just and dignified. And also new learning outcomes for the classicprotagonists of the world of work. By gathering contributions from international experts on theworld of work, from different national contexts and disciplinary affiliations, this dossier fulfillsthis purpose of critical debate, supported by concrete experiences. Here the reader can findcontributions on regional solidarity and union networks, political regulation processes, globaleconomic planning, climate transition, forms of transnational labor organization, informal work,North and South relations, work in the platform economy or digital communication processes.Apesar de as preocupações em torno do salário e da elevação da qualidade de vida da classe trabalhadora terem adquirido uma centralidade histórica nos reportórios de luta desenhados em escala nacional, a ambição de solidariedade internacionalista e de emancipação das formas de organização coletiva dos trabalhadores constituiu sempre um fim em si mesmo. À luz dos tempos atuais, trata-se de uma ambição que pode ser testemunhada no modo como as tendências de globalização e neoliberalismo contemporâneo reclamam respostas adequadas e organizadas, de partilha de experiências, de contributos para novas formas de governança global, mais justas e dignificantes. E igualmente de novas aprendizagens para os protagonistas clássicos do mundo do trabalho. Ao reunir contributos de especialistas internacionais sobre o mundo do trabalho, provenientes de distintos contextos nacionais e filiações disciplinares, este dossiê cumpre esse propósito de debate crítico, apoiado em experiências concretas. Aqui se encontram contributos sobre solidariedades regionais e redes sindicais, processos de regulamentação política, planejamento econômico global, transição climática, formas de organização laboral transnacional, trabalho informal, relações Norte e Sul, trabalho na economia de plataforma ou processos de comunicação digital