An lisis que representa una de las reafirmaciones m s completas de la centralidad del trabajo como campo de estudio. Su objetivo principal es, seg n el coordinador, "dar cuenta del estado del arte de la disciplina en forma ampliada desde el punto de vista de las teor as m s importantes y de los resultados de la investigaci n emp rica en nuestra regi n".

Este libro presenta una exposición sistemática del estado del arte de la sociología de acuerdo con una división temática de la misma, en cuyo desarrollo se exponen las diferentes corrientes, sus semejanzas y diferencias, así como los conceptos principales de cada perspectiva. En este libro se exponen las nuevas perspectivas teóricas en algunas de las más importantes subdisciplinas de la Sociología, sobre todo las de aquellas que parten de las crisis paradigmáticas de fines de los setenta y principios de los ochenta. Su enfoque es desde los problemas sociales de América Latina. Cada capítulo y tema planteado comprende tres partes: la primera, expone las teorías actuales más importantes sobre la temática a nivel internacional; la segunda, se centra en América Latina; la tercera, presenta los resultados de la investigación empírica, así como algunas reflexiones acerca del desarrollo de líneas de investigación necesarias; y se concluye con una bibliografía extensa y actualizada.

What makes domestic work a bad job, even after efforts to formalize and improve working conditions? Erynn Masi de Casanova's case study, based partly on collaborative research conducted with Ecuador's pioneer domestic workers' organization, examines three reasons for persistent exploitation. First, the tasks of social reproduction are devalued. Second, informal work arrangements escape regulation. And third, unequal class relations are built into this type of employment. Accessible to advocates and policymakers as well as academics, this book provides both theoretical discussions about domestic work and concrete ideas for improving women's lives. Drawing on workers' stories of lucha, trabajo, and sacrificio—struggle, work, and sacrifice—Dust and Dignity offers a new take on an old occupation. From the intimate experience of being a body out of place in an employer's home, to the common work histories of Ecuadorian women in different cities, to the possibilities for radical collective action at the national level, Casanova shows how and why women do this stigmatized and precarious work and how they resist exploitation in the search for dignified employment. From these searing stories of workers' lives, Dust and Dignity identifies patterns in domestic workers' experiences that will be helpful in understanding the situation of workers elsewhere and offers possible solutions for promoting and ensuring workers' rights that have relevance far beyond Ecuador.

The advent of transnational economic production and market integration compels sociologists of work to look beyond traditional national boundaries and build an international sociology of work in order to effectively address the human, scientific, and practical challenges posed by global economic transnationalism. The purpose of this volume is to promote transnational dialogue about the sociology of work and help build a truly international discipline in this field.

In this book, renowned author José Maurício Domingues places Latin America within the third phase of global modern civilization and offers a general theoretical approach to contemporary Latin America. He sees modernity as configured by episodic modernizing moves which, when counting on strong identity and organization as well as clear-cut projects, may assume the aspect of modernizing offensives. Highlighting subjects as law, rights and justice as well as globalization and development, Dominguez places Latin America in the uneven, combined and contradictory development of modern civilization and offers a final assessment of its possibilities and limits. The book will be of interest to researchers and students of modernity, globalization, Latin America, sociological theory and its key concepts.

Breaking new ground and drawing on contributions from the leading academics in the field, this volume in the Global HRM Series specifically focuses on industrial relations.

In addition to providing the reader with a thorough overview of the trends in HR strategies and practice and the challenges faced by HR executives in Latin America, this book also explores cultural issues critical to conducting business and understanding human resource management in this region. Structured in two distinct parts, Davila and Elvira's comprehensive book moves from a general overview of the economic, managerial and leadership styles found in Latin America to the current status, role and importance of the HR function in a variety of country-specific chapters including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Central America and Panama. Expert scholars from the region and abroad highlight how regional characteristics affect HRM practices according to the particular development of each country, and country specific chapters focus on: aspects of key institutional determinants of HRM practices (such as laws, politics, economy) the current status, role and importance of the HR function in most firms review practices including pay, staffing and labour relations trends for the near future. Written from a Latin American perspective, and by contributors with interdisciplinary backgrounds, it features topical, original research and forms an essential component of the Global HRM series, complementing the other texts. Using up-to-the-minute case studies, this text is invaluable reading for academics, students and practitioners of HRM, personnel management and international business alike.