Work and citizenship: crises and alternatives

Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 5

One purpose of this article is to refute some commonly held ideas which consider that ongoing changes in work and employment are inevitable and they have positive consequences at the social and individual level. It is subjacent on approach considering that there is no single striking trend while there are alternatives deserving discussion. The paper starts with analysis on the crises in the Fordist-Keynesian employment regime, the basis of our modern social citizenship. There is no consensus concerning the changes currently taking place in work/employment, are discussed different approaches: the neo-liberal perspective, the techno-optimistic perspective on the information/knowledge society, the management rhetoric on the flexible market principle-driven network organisation, critical perspectives and theories about “the end of work”. Finally, the article provides a reflection on the future of work and citizenship. This characterises four scenarios: the market regulated work centred society, the market society, the renewed work centred society and the society centred on alternative activities. The renewed work centred society is given preference, where citizenship is based on work as a meaningful activity capable of providing autonomy, satisfaction and social integration, where people work less and live more, where individuals have greater control over their time and can better conciliate work with other activities.