Trade unions, employers and state and employment policies

Summary
A key element in the Scandinavian model is the “historic compromise” between business and labour, and the role of the state in supporting it. In this class we identify the different elements of this compromise and we look how it proved compatible with the structure and ideology of the trade union movement up until recent years. We then turn to recent developments asking whether this model is still relevant to understanding economic and labour market policy developments.

Mandatory readings:
 ARTER, David. Parliamentary Democracy in Scandinavia. Parliamentary Affairs. Vol. 57 No. 3, Pages 581 à 600.
 ANDERSSON, Staffan et al. Political Parties in Scandinavian: From Society to state?. (Chap. 3, page 1 à 18).
 ERSSON, Savante et MILNER, Henry. Taking Part in Political Life: Political Participation in the Nordic States. (Chap. 4, page 1 à 25).
 MILNER, Henry. DO THE FADING ELECTORAL FORTUNES OF THE SWEDISH SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SIGNAL THE EROSION OF SWEDISH SOCIAL DEMOCRACY?. Draft Chapter for the conference The Crisis of Social Democracy? at the University of Edinburgh, March 11th, 2011. 17 pages.