Labor and Monopoly Capital
The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century
By: Harry Braverman
About This Book
This widely acclaimed book, first published in 1974, was a classic from its first day in print. Written in a direct, inviting way by Harry Braverman, whose years as an industrial worker gave him rich personal insight into work, Labor and Monopoly Capital overturned the reigning ideologies of academic sociology. This new edition features an introduction by John Bellamy Foster that sets the work in historical and theoretical context, as well as two rare articles by Braverman, "The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century" (1975) and "Two Comments" (1976), that add much to our understanding of the book.
AI Overview
Title: "Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century" by Harry Braverman
Key Themes:
- Labor Process and Monopoly Capitalism: The book examines the economics and sociology of work under monopoly capitalism, focusing on the labor process and its degradation.
- Scientific Management: Braverman critiques Frederick Winslow Taylor's scientific management, arguing that it has led to the deskilling of labor and increased managerial control over the workplace.
- Class Dynamics: The book explores the structure and dynamics of the working class, including changes in class composition and the emergence of new spheres of production.
- Resistance and Struggles: It outlines workers' resistance to managerial strategies and the historical development of workplace control.
- Marxist Theory: Braverman's analysis is deeply rooted in Marxist theory, particularly Marx's concept of the reserve army of labor and the general law of accumulation.
Plot Summary: The book begins by examining occupational shifts in the United States and the changing structure of the working class. Braverman argues that the industrial working class has been shrinking, and new employment patterns have emerged. He then delves into the labor process, analyzing how scientific management has transformed the workplace, leading to the degradation of work. The book is structured into several parts:
- Part I: Labor and Management focuses on the theory of the labor process and scientific management.
- Part II: Science and Mechanization explores the impact of mechanization on the labor process.
- Part III: Monopoly Capital examines the changes in the structure and composition of the working class under late-twentieth-century monopoly capitalism.
- Part IV: The Growing Working-Class Occupations discusses the emergence of new working-class occupations.
- Part V: The Working Class provides a comprehensive analysis of the working class and its reserve armies.
Critical Reception:
- Influence and Impact: "Labor and Monopoly Capital" has been highly influential in labor sociology, particularly in the post-Second World War period. It has sold over 120,000 copies and has been widely read in many languages, with significant impact on scholarly debate in Britain.
- Academic Reception: The book elicited a mixed response from academics. Some praised its ability to open new areas of analysis and crucial questions, while others criticized its methods and answers. Despite this, it is considered one of the most important sociological books of its era.
- Criticisms: Critics have argued that Braverman's analysis is too narrow, focusing mainly on Taylorism and labor degradation. Some have also criticized his temporal and spatial limitations, suggesting that he overlooked changes brought about by new historical conditions and specific country circumstances.
- Legacy: Despite criticisms, the book remains a classic in the field, with many authors recognizing its significance in understanding the dynamics of capitalism and the labor process. It has inspired historical studies on deskilling, bureaucracy, and Marxist historiography.
Overall Assessment: "Labor and Monopoly Capital" is a seminal work that provides a comprehensive analysis of the labor process under monopoly capitalism. Braverman's critique of scientific management and his exploration of class dynamics have made the book a foundational text in labor sociology. While it has faced criticisms for its scope and methodology, its influence on understanding the degradation of work and the changing structure of the working class remains significant.