ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how the French consensus and the post-fordist debate relate to the international way of thinking. It addresses the question: are we confronted with the belief that the search for greater flexibility leads towards economic growth and consequently towards greater democracy? The chapter focuses on the paradox between the atomisation of the labour force and a continued economic concentration. The analysis of the English and French production systems revealed the emergence of ‘brain firms’ during a period of intense economic crisis. Mass production was no longer considered the only path forward. Concepts such as deconcentration, co-operation and partnership were developed in relation to specialisation, competence and autonomy. The chapter demonstrates that the process of extemalisation as well as the development of cascading subcontracting contradict such a belief. The concept of controlled autonomy is used to put into perspective emerging forms of social and productive systems linking the large to the small and the global to the local.
