ABSTRACT
The search for Japan's peripheral workforce takes as its point of reference the literature on industrial relations, particularly the literature concerning Japan. Clearly there are many perceptions of what constitutes the industrial relations area of study and diverse theoretical approaches to the subject. Before proceeding with the specific concerns of this study, therefore, this chapter will look at the range of approaches to industrial relations research. Discussion will then turn to ways in which these approaches have been applied to the Japanese situation and an assessment of the literature's influence on perceptions of a Japanese 'model' of industrial relations.
