Moments of danger, moments of opportunity: the role of individuals as change agents in organisations.

Research project This study will investigate the role of individuals as agents of change in organisations. Given the crisis of unions on the one hand and their importance for ensuring democratic societies on the other, we aim to understand how TUs respond to the structural challenges of globalisation and Climate Change.

This study will investigate the role of individuals as agents of change in organisations. Given the crisis of unions on the one hand and their importance for ensuring democratic societies on the other, we aim to understand how TUs respond to the structural challenges of globalisation and Climate Change. The analysis will be based on case studies looking at the role of individuals in developing new trade union policies. The unions selected for investigation are metal workers and agricultural unions in Sweden, the UK, Spain, Brazil, South Africa and India.

Head of project

Nora Räthzel Professor emerita

Project overview

Project period:

2011-01-01 – 2016-12-31

Funding

Finansår , 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

huvudman: Nora Räthzel, finansiar: Vetenskapsrådet, y2011: 1839, y2012: 1839, y2013: 1839, y2014: 1839, y2015: 1839,

Participating departments and units at Umeå University

Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences

Research area

Sociology

Project description

This study will investigate the role of individuals as agents of change in organisations. It aims to analyse their role against the background of the present historical context of transition, characterised by globalisation, individualisation, changes in the composition of the workforce, working conditions and the restructuring of production.

Given the danger in which unions are living on the one hand and their importance for ensuring democratic and just societies on the other, we aim to understand how TUs respond to the structural challenges of Western societies and globalisation. Such an analysis will illuminate our understanding of the capacity of civil society organisations in general and TUs in particular to address the challenges of societal transformations at a national and international level.

The analysis will be based on case studies looking at the role of individuals in developing new trade union policies. The unions selected for investigation are international, regional, national and local metal workers and agricultural unions in the following countries: Sweden, the UK, Spain, Brazil, South Africa and India.

The research will combine qualitative methods of life-history and oral history with quantitative survey methods.