Labor, Inequality, and Democracy

A central issue of our time is the strength of democracy in an era of mounting threats of authoritarianism, rising inequality, and economic insecurity for many working people. What role does worker organization–especially through labor unions–play in shaping these outcomes? This seminar will probe the relationship between labor, inequality, and democracy from a variety of perspectives in law, political science, sociology, history, and economics. Our discussions will address questions such as: What is the connection between workplace democracy and political democracy? How have global trade, outsourcing, contracting, on-call and contingent employment arrangements, monopolistic business practices, and technology shaped labor markets and broader economic and political outcomes for workers? How do racial and gender hierarchies structure labor markets, and what role does labor organizing play in addressing this stratification? How can labor law be reformed to achieve greater workplace, economic, and political democracy and what are new hooks and opportunities for labor organizing?