Resistance and Power in Organizations.

TLDR

The collection builds on theory of power, control, and domination in the labour process, expanding the analysis to material circumstances and subjective states that give rise to subtle subversion, sabotage, and overt defiance. It develops the theme of resistance from below in everyday organizational life and employs recent critical social theory to provoke thinking about resistance as both a response to power and a form of power. The authors use case studies, interviews, surveys, and ethnographic data from around the world to reveal a spectrum of resistance practices ranging from covert to overt. The contributions demonstrate that oppressive workplace practices can be countered by powerful resistance forces.

Abstract

This collection develops the theme of resistance from below in everyday organizational life. Building on a body of theory dealing with power, control and domination in the labour process, international contributors expand the analysis by focusing on material circumstances and subjective states that lead to subtle forms of subversion and sabotage, as well as to more overt forms of defiance and protest. Discussion is supported throughout by case studies, interviews, surveys and ethnographic data drawn from around the world, to reveal resistance practices which range from those hidden in the crawl spaces of organizations to those that are more public and demonstrative. Recent developments in critical social theory are used to provoke thinking about resistance, both as a response to power and a form of power. The contributions show that oppressive practices at work can be met with powerful counterforces.