1. The new morphology of labour: cybertariat, materiality, immateriality and value; 2. Development and decent work

Abstract

The research activities that Prof. Elísio Estanque would be committed with throughout 2013, with IFCH and CESIT, both from UNICAMP, are a continuation of several previous collaborations with Brazil, and are directly linked to the following projects: 1) The Morphology of New Labour: infoproletariat, materiality and immateriality and value, coordinated by Ricardo Antunes - IFCH; 2) Development and Decent Work, coordinated by José Dari Krein - CESIT. The participation of Prof. Elísio is directly related to its activities for more than 20 years at the Centre For Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra. It is worth mentioning the regular cooperation of the above mentioned professor with academic activities and projects developed at UNICAMP and USP, especially around the theme of work, unions and social movements. That experience will make it easier his full integration into ongoing activities and projects at those research centers. The purpose of his participation is to bring together research undergoing in Europe and current discussions in Brazil around the following issues: employment, job insecurity, the decline in the security and rights of labor, resulting from neoliberal policies and globalization, which tend to reverse social rights to a situation of generalized flexibility and precariousness (including sections of the middle class). This exchange gains relevance because of the context of crisis experienced by Europe today, giving prominence to the comparative analysis between Portugal and Brazil. The results consolidate the affinities already established in previous collaborations between researchers at IFCH and CESIT with CES. The research program will focus, therefore, on the discussion on labor, precariousness and social movements, and thus is integrated directly to projects coordinated by Ricardo Antunes and José Dari Krein. In a context of profound changes in the forms of production, exchange and modes of regulation of the capitalist system, we are witnessing a recomposition of class structure, a process accentuated the precariousness of labor and the emergence of new inequalities. These characteristics have led to new social and political phenomena as well as new forms of involvement and mobilization in the social arena, that have been of particular importance over the last year and whose rigorous study and understanding are still in an embryonic stage. The complex transformations occurring in the structure of the capitalist system produce fast and drastic changes in the sphere of labor and employment. Work has changed its characteristics (as stable occupation) and labor fragmentation tends to create precarious labor relations, impacting the potential strength and organizational capacity of the working class. Moreover, in the context of the current crisis, emerging new social movements and trade unions, bringing to fore a debate on the issues of labor, employment and social protection. Particularly at this point Prof. Estanque’s research on the recent experience of the emergence of new social movements in Europe, is relevant. (The proposed research project of Professor Elísio is also attached).As a full time visiting professor, the candidate will interact and will be integrated with the above mentioned research lines. And he will also will participate in other academic activities, such as seminars, and will also teach courses within the Sociology Graduate Program at IFCH and the area of Labor Studies work at the Institute of Economics, both at UNICAMP. Also, he will interact with graduate students and will also participate in Thesis Committees at UNICAMP. (AU)