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Durkheim in the Neoliberal Organization : Taking Resistance and Solidarity Seriously

Author

Listed:
  • David Courpasson

    (EM - EMLyon Business School, Cardiff University)

  • Dima Younès

    (EM - EMLyon Business School)

  • Michael Ivor Reed

    (Cardiff University)

Abstract

Durkheim's contributions to organization studies have so far been decidedly marginal, and largely concentrated on culture. In this paper, we draw upon his theory of anomie and solidarity to show how a Durkheimian view of contemporary organizations and work has special relevance today for debates about how workers, particularly middle managers, can reshuffle a capacity to resist neoliberal efforts to profoundly disrupt their working conditions, in particular their autonomy to define what is a job well done. We show how Durkheim's insights can account for the unexpected rekindling of forms of social solidarity in highly competitive and individualistic organizational settings, through dissident efforts that convey a renewal of a certain work ethos severed by neoliberal managerial policies and practices. Recent studies on resistance confirm Durkheim's view that forms of collective activity, resembling supposedly ‘old' mechanisms of former days, continue to exist and develop in contemporary societies and organizations, in response to pressure to put people in situations of inter-individual competition that disrupts social relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • David Courpasson & Dima Younès & Michael Ivor Reed, 2021. "Durkheim in the Neoliberal Organization : Taking Resistance and Solidarity Seriously," Post-Print hal-03273207, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03273207
    DOI: 10.1177/2631787720982619
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03273207
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    anomie; solidarity; resistance; middle managers; Durkheim; enclaves;
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