ABSTRACT

In this chapter, it is intention to assess in comparative perspective how the different governments and national economies adjusted to globalization and, subsequently, which kinds of strategies the different trade unions adopted to represent their clienteles. The main thesis is that the strategies became more flexible and transnational over time. The transition from disorganized to reorganized capitalism is still ongoing. In spite of this fact, one can recognize that trade unionism has to move towards a more flexible strategy, so that they will be able to represent their clienteles at the appropriate multilevel governance system of the European Union. Decentralization of structures and some supranationalization of macro-policy making and influencing are essential reform elements for a trade unionism in the new millennium. The changing nature of the political economy of the nation-state is leading to social destratification and restratification structures along the communication and information infrastructures, which are partly virtual.