Democratize work to radicalize democracy

Abstract

Drawing on a critical analysis of classical and contemporary discussions on labor democracy, the article first examines the arguments that can be made to support the idea that the democratization of work is possible and desirable, or, conversely, that it is impossible or illegitimate. It then distinguishes two scenarios for the democratization of work: the first sees the democratization of work as a democratization of corporate governance; the second conceives it as a democratization of participation in the collective activity of work. The article argues that the radicalization of democracy requires the democratization of work environments and understanding work as a space for the formation of democratic habits such as autonomy, cooperation, and collective deliberation.