Democratize Work. The Case for Reorganizing the Economy (2022)

SYNOPSIS

An urgent and deeply resonant case for the power of workplace democracy to restore balance between economy and society.

What happens to a society—and a planet—when capitalism outgrows democracy? The tensions between democracy and capitalism are longstanding, and they have been laid bare by the social effects of COVID-19. The narrative of “essential workers” has provided thin cover for the fact that society’s lowest paid and least empowered continue to work risky jobs that keep our capitalism humming. Democracy has been subjugated by the demands of capitalism. For many, work has become unfair.

In Democratize Work, essays from a dozen social scientists—all women—articulate the perils and frustrations of our collective moment, while also framing the current crisis as an opportunity for renewal and transformation. Amid mounting inequalities tied to race, gender, and class—and with huge implications for the ecological fate of the planet—the authors detail how adjustments in how we organize work can lead to sweeping reconciliation. By treating workers as citizens, treating work as something other than an asset, and treating the planet as something to be cared for, a better way is attainable.

Contributors: Alyssa Battistoni (Barnard College), Adelle Blackett (McGill University), Julia Cagé (Sciences Po), Neera Chandhoke (University of Delhi), Lisa Herzog (University of Groningen), Imge Kaya Sabanci (IE Business School), Sara Lafuente (European Trade Union Institute), Hélène Landemore (Yale University), Flávia Máximo (Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil), Pavlina R. Tcherneva (Levy Economics Institute of Bard College).

REVIEWS / ENDORSEMENTS

This brilliant book makes the most compelling, comprehensive, and accessible case yet for democratizing work. It shows how we all have a stake in empowering workers at work—not only for the sake of workers, but for democracy at large, and a more sustainable planet.

— Elizabeth Anderson, John Dewey Distinguished University Professor, University of Michigan

A must-read if you are looking for hope! A crucial contribution to rethinking our world and our economic system. Democratic, green, and feminist, it lays a cornerstone for building a fairer and more inclusive society.

— Thomas Piketty, Paris School of Economics, EHESS

Democracy is in crisis everywhere. This accessible book argues that democratizing work can not only underpin a fairer economy, but also help democratic politics as well. Brimming with new ideas and perspectives, this book will challenge preconceptions and make you think.

— Daron Acemoglu, MIT Institute Professor, Department of Economics

For humanity to step back from the brink, changes in how we organize our economies and societies are urgent. This exciting yet viable manifesto provides the framework to mobilise for change. An essential handbook for everyone hoping for a better future.

— Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

TRANSLATIONS

• French: Le Manifeste Travail. Démocratiser, Démarchandiser, Dépolluer, Le Seuil, Paris, 2020
• Portuguese: O Manifesto do Trabalho, 2021 — open access
• Italian: Il Manifesto del Lavoro, 2022
• Dutch: Democratiseer Ons Werk!, 2023
• German: Die Demokratisierung der Arbeit, 2025

RELATED EVENTS

Global Book Launch, May 16, 2022:

CITATION

Ferreras I., Battilana J., Méda D., Democratize Work. The Case for Reorganizing the Economy. May 2022, University of Chicago Press.