A triumph of failed ideas European models of capitalism in ... - Journal

Crisis corporatism and trade union revitalisation in Europe.................................................................................................................................................................point of view, (only) if the redistributive and organisational successesthat could thereby be achieved exceeded the interest-based concessionswhich could be achieved in the political trade-off under crisis-inducedcorporatist arrangements. Interest-driven successes for trade unions incapitalist societies are not just a question of strategic will, but also ofwhat is doable in terms of power politics, and hence dependent on thepossession of sufficient power resources. This applies as much tostrategies geared towards conflict and militancy as it does to thosegeared to compromise and dialogue. In this way, the regeneration oftrade union power in financial market capitalism becomes a generalcondition for successful interest-driven policy, irrespective of whether‘boxing or dancing’ provides the appropriate metaphor (Huzzard, Gregoryand Scott 2004).Strategic efforts must be developed and implemented in line with thenational variants of the European employment model and the relevantproduction, employment and welfare regimes (Bosch, Rubery andLehndorff 2007a). In the circumstances of the German model thefollowing aims have been mentioned as particularly important: first,broadening the operational base within firms, and making work lessinsecure; second, raising the general level of trade union membershipand organising new groups of wage-earners; third, institutional reformof the industry-wide multi-employer wage agreement and the labourrules and social structure; fourth, extending influence in the nationalspheres of economic and social policy; fifth and last, the communicativestrengthening of trade unions’ crisis policy and its underlying ideas(Urban 2005).But whatever the institutional specifics of each national regime, it is theunions’ strategic understanding of their role that is likely to determinewhether the strategic challenges are recognised and tackled as such. Asa structurally conservative blocking power – defending what can bedefended both during and after the crisis – they are unlikely to succeed.Even sticking to their role as the companion of modernisation andmoderator of the crisis is likely to fall short of what is required. Muchmore promising is a political understanding by trade unions of theirrole as a constructive veto-player (Urban 2005). This self-understandingassumes that not only the transition from the Fordist formation to anew socio-economic model of development, but also the emergence ofthis model from the crisis, involves power-based conflicts over redistri-A triumph of failed ideas – European models of capitalism in the crisis 235