IS JOHN KELLY’S MOBILIZATION THEORY STILL FRESH IN ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY FOR TRADE UNIONS?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal contributions and tensions of John Kelly’s “Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilization, Collectivism and Long Waves” and to discuss whether it is still fresh or not in its 20th anniversary for the industrial relations IR literature and trade unions. Kelly’s most important contribution to the IR literature is to create a new way of thinking about IR. After the mobilization theory was written, IR literature began to focus more heavily on Kelly’s subject matters such as, worker mobilization, worker collectivism, union activism, power relations, long waves, organizing and union revitalization. On the other hand, Kelly’s some foresights about union revitalization and long waves have still not became a reality. I argue that this question is not a theoretical deficiency, on the contrary, it contributes to a sustainable utilization of the theory for trade unions under the conditions of neo-liberal politics and employers’ hostility to union organizing

Keywords

• Mobilization Theory,Industrial Relations Theory,Trade Unions

JOHN KELLY’NİN YİRMİ YAŞINDAKİ MOBİLİZASYON TEORİSİ SENDİKALAR İÇİN HALA YENİ Mİ?

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, John Kelly’nin mobilizasyon teorisinin katkılarını ve teorideki gerilimli alanları göstermek ve bu sayede yirminci yılına giren teorinin güncelliğini koruyup korumadığı hakkında bir tartışma yapmaktır. Kelly’nin endüstri ilişkileri teorisine yaptığı en önemli katkı endüstri ilişkileri hakkında yeni bir düşünüş tarzı ortaya çıkarmasıdır. Kelly’nin teorisinden sonra endüstri ilişkileri yazını işçi mobilizasyonu, işçi kolektivizmi, güç ilişkileri, uzun dalgalar, sendikal canlanma ve örgütlenme gibi konulara çok daha yoğun bir şekilde odaklanmaya başlamıştır. Öte yandan, teorinin uzun dalgalar ve sendikal canlanma ile ilgili bazı öngörüleri henüz hayata geçmemiştir. Çalışmanın temel iddiası, bu sorunun teorik bir eksikliğe işaret etmediği yönündedir. Aksine bu durum, neo-liberal politikalar ve işverenlerin sendika düşmanlığı koşulları altında, teoride yer alan önerilerin devamlı taze kalmasını sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mobilizasyon Teorisi,Endüstri İlişkileri Teorisi,Sendikalar

Kaynakça

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