The future of industrial relations

Abstract

The end of Keynesian thinking and the advent of neoliberal policies that induced globalization, the new management models and technological changes have all confined the role of state regulation. At the same time they have also enhanced flexibility in working patterns. This change is more evident in the French industrial relations model, due to the importance of the state and the weakness of trade unions. Based on the French experience, the paper attempts to depict the future evolution of industrial relations, beyond current changes, by putting forward two possible scenarios; the state-market and the democratic. The argument presented by the author supports the second one, yet the paper shows that the first one seems more possible based on current trends.