Korean Workers and Neoliberal GlobalizationOne of the most remarkable aspects of South Korea’s transition from impoverished post-colonial nation to fully-fledged industrialized democracy has been the growth of its independent and dynamic labour movement. Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalisation examines current trends and transformations within the Korean labour movement since the 1990s. It has been a common assumption that the ‘third wave’ of democratisation, the end of the Cold War, and the spread of neoliberal globalisation in the latter part of the 20thcentury have helped to create an environment in which organised labour is better placed to overcome bureaucratic national unionism and transform itself into a potential counter-globalisation movement. However, Kevin Gray argues that despite the apparent continued phenomena of labour militancy and the rhetoric of anti-neoliberalism, the mainstream independent labour movement in Korea has become increasingly institutionalised and bureaucratised into the new capitalist democracy. This process is demonstrated by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ experience of participation in various forms of policy making forums. Gray suggests that as a result, the KCTU has failed to mount an effective challenge against processes of neoliberal restructuring and concomitant social polarisation. The Korean experience provides an excellent case study for understanding the relationship between organised labour and globalisation. Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalisation will appeal to students and scholars of Korean studies and International Political Economy, as well as Asian politics and economics. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 7
... Hyundai Motors , Chung Sei - Young , for the first time invited the new union leadership and requested the union's coopera- tion in achieving a ' no dispute year ' . Accordingly , Lee Yong - Bok promised that he would not resort to ...
... Hyundai Motors Union represents regular workers mainly . This union began to play a central role in suppressing the second union which is supposed to repre- sent the temporary workers within Hyundai . This is a very important ...
... Hyundai , restructuring plans 44 Hyundai Engine Corporation 63 Hyundai Heavy Industry 63 , 67 Hyundai Heavy Industry Union 111 Hyundai Motors 123 Hyundai Motor's Union 68 , 98 , 117 strike at 111-113 Industrial Accident Insurance 133 ...
Contents
Neoliberal globalization labour and resistance | 12 |
Globalization crisis and the entrenchment | 31 |
The rise and fall of militant labour unionism in Korea | 52 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown