ABSTRACT
The narrative of post-industrialism/post-Fordism emerged during the and 1970s and 1980s when astute observers noticed that the labour process had entered yet another period of transition. Trying to capture exactly what ‘post-industrialism’ is, is a bit like being a photographer watching an impressive array of talent attending a film premier. This chapter identifies a number of specific themes which link the narratives of industrialism and post-Fordism. These are most evident in the work of Daniel Bell who first popularized the term ‘post-industrial society’, and of J. K. Galbraith. Bell’s narrative is firmly situated within the story-of-work tradition, and true to form he immediately notes that changes in the labour process have had a profound impact upon the kind of society in which people live. Post-industrial societies are ones in which an increasing proportion of the population is employed in services. The chapter includes rigorous debates around post-Fordism and flexibility.
