Precarity - More than a Challenge of Social Security Or: Cynicism of EU's Concept of Economic Freedom

The present book gathers edited contributions from a conference which had been held end of 2010 in Ankara, Turkey. This event brought together scientists and trade unionists from several EU- and non EU-countries, exploring one of the major, though frequently underestimated challenges of societal integrity. This continuing debate of the experts of the European S.U.P.I.-Network focussed in particular on the more fundamental issues of precarity. As much as precarity is a matter of socio-individual concern, having severe repercussions on the life of an increasing number of people, it is moreover a development that fundamentally challenges. It questions many of the values claimed by enlightenment and capitalist revolutions as universal, including solidarity, mutual support and equality though they are formally still claimed as valid; and moreover these developments are part of structural changes that easily fissure the contemporary mode of production. Does this mean the end of society? Or could it be a take-off for another renaissance?

Autorentext
Der Autor ist adjunct professor an der Universitaet Kuopio, Finnland (ab 1.1.2010 University of Eastern Finland) und adjunct senior lecturer an der Universitaet Cork, Ireland.