Dilemmas of work in contemporary capitalism

Abstract

Starting from the Marxist conception of work, which considers labor as a vital, self-determined and meaningful activity - which is not the case in the logic of capital -, in this article, we attempt to indicate some of the main changes that occurred in the universe of work in the XXth-century and their consequences for the working class. What we aim to highlight is that, throughout the development of the work process - from Taylorism to Toyotism - transformations did not mean rupture with the capitalist character of the production mode, nor with its complex ideological plan to control the subjectivity of workers. Examples include the apology of individualism and the increase in unemployment, intensification and precariousness of work, which mark the world of work in contemporary society.

work; production restructuring; subjectivity of workers