The Theory and Politics of Production

Abstract

The debate on the labour process examined here has been complex and lengthy. In this final chapter I start by summarising the arguments that have been made in evaluating the diverse contributions, so as to clear the way for a discussion of the major problems they pose for a theory and politics of production. Aside from the many unresolved aspects of the labour process debate, there are also a number of unanswered questions that arise from omissions in the discussion. These unanswered questions are a vital component of a wider theory of work and society. Two particular areas are therefore tackled in this chapter. The first consists of an attempt to pose more direct questions concerning the distinctiveness of the capitalist labour process, through a comparative examination of the parallel situation in Eastern Europe.