Abstract
Existing theory in the field of transnational labour relations has, so far, followed an actor- or structure-centred approach, with little reference to the interconnectedness of representational bodies that are located at different levels in a multi-level system of industrial relations. This chapter sets out the overarching theoretical approach used in the study, which comprises three theoretical building blocks: Giddens’ theory of structuration; the theory of action fields, as proposed by Fligstein and McAdam; and the concept of articulation, which highlights the interconnectedness of different representational bodies and action fields. Based on these considerations, we define articulation as the degree of vertical coordination and horizontal integration of actors or representational bodies across local, national, and transnational action fields. The chapter concludes with a typology of articulation patterns that then serves as an analytical schema for the empirical investigation of employee representation within multinational companies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
See the explanatory footnote on p. 50 in Chap. 3.
- 2.
It is also possible to differentiate further elements of ‘employee representation practice’, such as ‘control practice’ as a term for the activities of German works councils in monitoring the implementation of and compliance with regulatory instruments, such as collective agreements (sing. Tarifvertrag) or workplace agreements (sing. Betriebsvereinbarung)—in Germany, the former negotiated by trade unions and the latter by works councils.
References
Beckert, J. (1999). Agency, Entrepreneurs, and Institutional Change. The Role of Strategic Choice and Institutional Practices in Organizations. Organization Studies, 20(5), 777–799.
Beyer, J. (2005). Pfadabhängigkeit ist nicht gleich Pfadanhängigkeit! Wider den impliziten Konservatismus eines gängigen Konzepts. Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 34(1), 5–21.
Bosch, A., Ellguth, P., Schmidt, R., & Trinczek, R. (1999). Betriebliches Interessenhandeln: Zur politischen Kultur der Austauschbeziehungen zwischen Management und Betriebsrat in der westdeutschen Industrie. Opladen: Leske & Budrich.
Crouch, C. (1993). Industrial Relations and European State Traditions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crouch, C. (2004). Post-democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Crozier, M., & Friedberg, E. (1979). Macht und Organisation. Die Zwänge kollektiven Handelns. Königstein: Athäneum.
DiMaggio, P. J. (1988). Interest and Agency in Institutional Theory. In L. G. Zucker (Ed.), Institutional Patterns and Organizations (pp. 3–22). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Djelic, M.-L., & Quack, S. (2007). Overcoming Path Dependencies – Path Generation in Open Systems. Theory and Society, 36, 161–186.
Dörrenbächer, C., & Geppert, M. (Eds.). (2011). Politics and Power in the Multinational Corporation. The Role of Institutions, Interests and Identities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Dorssemont, F., & Kerckhofs, P. (2015). Linking Information and Consultation Procedures at Local and European Level. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Edwards, R. C. (1979). Contested Terrain. New York: Basic Books.
Erne, R. (2008). European Unions. Labor’s Quest for a Transnational Democracy. Ithaca/London: Cornell University Press.
Ferner, A., & Hyman, R. (Eds.). (1998). Changing Industrial Relations in Europe. Oxford: Blackwell.
Fligstein, N., & McAdam, D. (2012). A Theory of Fields. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society. Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Hall, S., Morley, D., & Chen, K.-H. (1996). Stuart Hall: Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies. London/New York: Routledge.
Hauser-Ditz, A., Hertwig, M., Pries, L., & Rampeltshammer, L. (2016). A Solution for Transnational Labour Regulation? Company Internationalization and European Works Councils in the Automotive Sector. Oxford/Frankfurt am Main/New York: Peter Lang.
Heery, E., & Noon, M. (2008). A Dictionary of Human Resource Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hertwig, M., Pries, L., & Rampeltshammer, L. (2011). Stabilizing Effects of European Works Councils. Examples from the Automotive Industry. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 17(3), 209–226.
Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G. J. (2005). Culture and Organizations. Software of the Mind. Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival. New York: McGraw-Hill Education Ltd.
Hyman, R., & Streeck, W. (1988). New Technology and Industrial Relations. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Joas, H., & Knöbl, W. (2004). Social Theory: Twenty Introductory Lectures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Keune, M., & Marginson, P. (2013). Transnational Industrial Relations as Multi-Level Governance: Interdependencies in European Social Dialogue. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 51(3), 473–497.
Kotthoff, H. (2006). Lehrjahre des Europäischen Betriebsrats: Zehn Jahre transnationale Arbeitnehmervertretung. Berlin: Edition Sigma.
Kotthoff, H., & Reindl, J. (1990). Die soziale Welt kleiner Betriebe. Göttingen: Schwartz.
Kotthoff, H., & Whittall, M. (2014). Paths to Transnational Solidarity. Oxford: Peter Lang.
Kristensen, P. H., & Zeitlin, J. (2005). Local Players in Global Games. The Strategic Constitution of a Multinational Corporation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Laclau, E. (1977). Politics and Ideology in Marxist Theory. Capitalism – Fascism – Populism. London/New York: Verso.
Laclau, E., & Mouffe, C. (1985). Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Toward a Radical Democratic Politics. London/New York: Verso.
Lecher, W., Platzer, H. W., Rüb, S., & Weiner, K. P. (2001). European Works Council: Developments, Types and Networking. Aldershot: Gower.
Lecher, W., Platzer, H.-W., Rüb, S., & Weiner, K.-P. (2002). Negotiated Europeanisation. European Works Councils – Between Statutory Framework and Social Dynamic. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Marginson, P. (2015). Coordinated Bargaining in Europe: From Incremental Corrosion to Frontal Assault? European Journal of Industrial Relations, 21(2), 97–114.
Marginson, P., Hall, M., Hoffmann, A., & Müller, T. (2004). The Impact of European Works Councils on Management Decision-Making in UK and US-Based Multinationals: A Case Study Comparison. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 42(2), 209–233.
Martínez Lucio, M., & Weston, S. (2000). European Works Councils and “Flexible Regulation”: The Politics of Intervention. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 6(2), 203–216.
Müller, T., Platzer, H.-W., & Rüb, S. (2004). Globale Arbeitsbeziehungen in globalen Konzernen? Zur Transnationalisierung betrieblicher und gewerkschaftlicher Politik. Eine vergleichende Fallstudie. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Offe, C., & Wiesenthal, H. (1980). Two Logics of Collective Action. Theoretical Notes on Social Class and Organisational Form. Political Power and Social Theory, 1, 67–115.
Platzer, H.-W., & Müller, T. (2011). Global and European Trade Union Federations: A Handbook and Analysis of Transnational Trade Union Organizations and Policies. Oxford: Peter Lang.
Pries, L. (2008). Die Transnationalisierung der sozialen Welt. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag.
Pulignano, V. (2005). EWCs’ Cross-National Employee Representative Coordination: A Case of Trade Union Cooperation? Economic and Industrial Democracy, 26(3), 383–412.
Pulignano, V. (2017). Articulation Within (and Across) Transnational Workplaces and the Role of European Works Councils. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 23(3), 261–276.
Schulten, T. (1998). Perspektiven nationaler Kollektivvertragsbeziehungen im integrierten Europa. In B. Kohler-Koch (Ed.), Regieren in entgrenzten Räumen (pp. 145–168). Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Streeck, W., & Thelen, K. (2005). Introduction: Institutional Change in Advanced Political Economies. In W. Streeck & K. Thelen (Eds.), Beyond Continuity. Institutional Change in Advanced Political Economies (pp. 1–39). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Waddington, J. (2011). European Works Councils and Industrial Relations: A Transnational Industrial Relations Institution in the Making. London: Routledge.
Walton, R. E., & McKersie, R. B. (1965). A Behavioral Theory of Labor Negotiations. An Analysis of a Social Interaction System. Ithaca: ILR Press.
Wirth, C. (2010). Reflexive Arbeitskräftewirtschaft. Strukturation, Projektnetzwerke und TV-Content-Produktion. München und Mering: Rainer Hampp Verlag.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Haipeter, T., Hertwig, M., Rosenbohm, S. (2019). Articulation, Structuration, and Action Fields: Theoretical Approaches. In: Employee Representation in Multinational Companies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97559-7_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97559-7_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97558-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97559-7
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)