DOCSLIB.ORG

Master of Arts Thesis How I Became a Trade Unionist: Comparative Study

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Master of Arts Thesis How I Became a Trade Unionist: Comparative Study Master of Arts Thesis Euroculture Palacký University Olomouc (First semester) University of Göttingen (Second semester) August 2020 How I Became a Trade Unionist: Comparative Study of Life Stories of Young Trade Union Members in Georgia and Germany Submitted by: Nino Natroshvili Student number first university: F171124 Student number second university: 11906178 Supervised by: Name of supervisor first university: Mgr. František Znebejánek, Ph.D. Name of supervisor second university: Dr. Peter Birke Place, date Göttingen, 8/28/2020 Signature 1 MA Programme Euroculture Declaration I, Nino Natroshvili hereby declare that this thesis, entitled “How I Became a Trade Unionist: Comparative Study of Life Stories of Young Trade Union Members in Georgia and Germany”, submitted as partial requirement for the MA Programme Euroculture, is my own original work and expressed in my own words. Any use made within this text of works of other authors in any form (e.g. ideas, figures, texts, tables, etc.) are properly acknowledged in the text as well as in the bibliography. I declare that the written (printed and bound) and the electronic copy of the submitted MA thesis are identical. I hereby also acknowledge that I was informed about the regulations pertaining to the assessment of the MA thesis Euroculture and about the general completion rules for the Master of Arts Programme Euroculture. Signed Date 8/28/2020 2 Abstract Trade unions are experiencing membership erosion. To what extent they will manage to stay relevant will depend on attracting underrepresented groups of people, including and particularly young people. Engaging them can be decisive for trade unions’ survival, as they are going to be the main contributors in the future working world. The purpose of this study is to explore the young trade union members’ life stories, their motivations and worldviews which inspired them to get engaged. We investigate the experiences of Georgian and German youngsters through semi-structured in-depth interviews. A variety of influences can be identified, such as: their social context, labour experiences and socio-political views. They have strong sense of social justice and willingness to contribute to positive changes. It is evident that trade unions need to reinforce their participation at decisive phases of young peoples’ lives, such as first labour experiences and at educational institutions, as well as they need to strengthen support for youth trade union organizations. Keywords: Trade unions, Young activists, Life stories, Georgia, Germany Number of Words: 28344 3 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 Literature Review and Research Questions ............................................................... 9 Social Context ........................................................................................................... 9 Embeddedness of Trade Unions at the Workplace ................................................... 12 Labour Experiences ................................................................................................. 14 Political Inclinations ................................................................................................ 16 Instrumentalist Approach......................................................................................... 19 Concluding Remarks and Research Questions ......................................................... 20 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 21 Case Selection ......................................................................................................... 22 Selection of Research Participants ........................................................................... 22 Data Collection Procedure ....................................................................................... 24 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 27 Role of Researcher .................................................................................................. 28 Protection of Human Subjects.................................................................................. 29 Limitations and Strengths ........................................................................................ 29 Trade Unions and Young People .............................................................................. 31 Note on Trade Unions - Germany ............................................................................ 31 School-to-Work Transition in Germany ................................................................... 33 Vocational Education and Training (VET) ........................................................... 33 Trade Unions in Vocational Education and Training ............................................ 35 Higher Education ................................................................................................. 36 Dual Study Programs ........................................................................................... 37 Trade unions in Higher Education (HE) ............................................................... 38 Spread of Precarious Employment ....................................................................... 39 Trade Unions in Precarious Employment ............................................................. 40 Note on Trade Unions – Georgia ............................................................................. 41 School-to-Work Transition in Georgia ..................................................................... 43 Higher Education ................................................................................................. 44 Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs ............................................ 47 4 Young People on the Job Market ......................................................................... 48 Presence of Trade Unions .................................................................................... 49 Concluding Remarks ............................................................................................... 51 Results ....................................................................................................................... 53 Social Context ......................................................................................................... 53 Childhood Experiences ........................................................................................ 53 Later Influences ................................................................................................... 59 Significant Events ................................................................................................... 63 Unity, Solidarity and Integrity .............................................................................. 63 From Strike to Union ........................................................................................... 64 From Agara to Tbilisi and Back ........................................................................... 65 Occupy Rustavi Azot ........................................................................................... 65 …And Then There Was a Strike .......................................................................... 66 Take me as I am ................................................................................................... 67 Labour Experiences ................................................................................................. 68 Lived Experiences................................................................................................ 68 Empathetic Support .............................................................................................. 71 Embeddedness of trade unions at the workplace ................................................... 72 Socio-political Views .............................................................................................. 73 Inequality and social justice ................................................................................. 73 “Smashing Capitalism” camp ............................................................................... 76 “Taming Capitalism” camp .................................................................................. 79 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 80 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 83 Bibliography .............................................................................................................. 85 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 93 APPENDIX 1. Interview Protocol ........................................................................... 93 APPENDIX 2. Consent Form .................................................................................. 95 5 Preface I would like to thank my supervisors Dr. František Znebejánek and Dr. Peter Birke for their expertise and guidance. I want to also express my gratitude to numerous people from whom I have received constructive comments or support at different time periods of working on my thesis: Dr. Antonin Kalous, Prof.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Liberalism and Georgia
    Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education Liberalism and Georgia Tbilisi 2020 Liberalism and Georgia © NCLE Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Edu- cation, 2020 www.chavchavadzecenter.ge © Authors: Teimuraz Khutsishvili, Nino Kalandadze, Gaioz (Gia) Japaridze, Giorgi Jokhadze, Giorgi Kharebava, 2020 Editor-in-chief: Zaza Bibilashvili Editor: Medea Imerlishvili The publication has been prepared with support from the Konrad-Ad- enauer-Stiftung South Caucasus within the framework of the project “Common Sense: Civil Society vis-à-vis Politics.” The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily rep- resent those of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung South Caucasus. This content may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial purposes without expressed written consent of the Center. The Ilia Chavchavadze Center extends its thanks to Dr. David Mai- suradze, a Professor at Caucasus University, and students Nika Tsilosani and Ana Lolua for the support they provided to the publication. Layout designer: Irine Stroganova Cover page designer: Tamar Garsevanishvili ISBN 978-9941-31-292-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE CENTER’S FORWORD .................................................................5 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................7 CHAPTER I – WHAT IS LIBERALISM? ..............................................9 Historical understanding of liberalism ..........................................9 Formation of
    [Show full text]
  • The Essence of Economic Reforms in Post- Revolution Georgia: What About the European Choice?
    Georgian International Journal of Science and Technology ISSN 1939-5825 Volume 1, Issue 1, pp. 1-9 © 2008 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. THE ESSENCE OF ECONOMIC REFORMS IN POST- REVOLUTION GEORGIA: WHAT ABOUT THE EUROPEAN CHOICE? Vladimer Papava* Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies Several countries in the post-Soviet world have completed the transition to a European- type market economy and have been admitted to the European Union. For others—either partly or totally unsuccessful in transitioning—the question of whether or not this kind of market economy could be built is not even discussed. As to the potential of EU membership, such countries have either never set such a goal for themselves or, at best, are considering it in a long-term perspective. It is no secret that Georgia is not ready to join the EU in the near future. In view of continual official statements regarding Georgia’s striving toward Euro-Atlantic organisations (see Papava and Tokmazishvili, 2006), however, we should know where we are going. One of the most important aspects is the vector of Georgia’s economic development. If we see Georgia as part of Europe—even if not fully accepted until the distant future—Georgia must transform into a European-type market economy. THE EU’S ECONOMIC MODEL AND GEORGIA It is not easy to describe the EU’s economic model, which is still in formation (Fioretos, 2003). According to Albert (1991), the EU has been a battlefield of the two key models of capitalism, i.e., the Anglo-American and the “Rhenish” (German-Japanese) ones.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Liberalism in Georgia a Challenge for EU Convergence and Trade Unions
    PERSPECTIVE | FES TBILISI Economic Liberalism in Georgia A Challenge for EU Convergence and Trade Unions MATTHIAS JOBELIUS April 2011 n Two decades after the end of real existing socialism in Georgia, ideology has again become a problem – this time emanating from the far right. Important econo- mic policy makers subscribe to a radical libertarianism. They fundamentally reject intervention in the economy, and provision of public goods such as education and health care by the state. n The government’s anti-regulatory economic policy slows down the country’s conver- gence with the EU. The refusal to strengthen economic regulatory authorities is directly at odds with the need to adopt European standards and regulatory procedures. n Georgia passed a new Labour Code in 2006 that is widely regarded as one of the world‘s most unfavourable towards employees. The dismantling of employee and trade union rights in the wake of this law brings Georgia into conflict with ILO core labour standards and the European Social Charter. Instead of a reform of the Labour Code, the country‘s trade unions are systematically put under pressure. n Anyone opting for a libertarian experiment such as the one in Georgia also opts for an authoritarian government style. The drastic structural adjustments would not be enforceable in any other way. The ideology-bound economic policy is therefore directly linked to the country’s deficit in terms of democracy. MATTHIAS JOBELIUS | ECONOMIC LIBERALISM IN GEORGIA 1. When Ideology Becomes a Problem the government for help is like trusting a drunk to do surgery on your brain.«1 The majority of international observers writing about Georgia’s economy take a positive view.
    [Show full text]
  • Emerson's Hidden Influence: What Can Spinoza Tell the Boy?
    Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Philosophy Honors Theses Department of Philosophy 6-15-2007 Emerson's Hidden Influence: What Can Spinoza Tell the Boy? Adam Adler Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/philosophy_hontheses Recommended Citation Adler, Adam, "Emerson's Hidden Influence: What Can Spinoza Tell the Boy?." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2007. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/philosophy_hontheses/2 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Philosophy at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Philosophy Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EMERSON’S HIDDEN INFLUENCE: WHAT CAN SPINOZA TELL THE BOY? by ADAM ADLER Under the Direction of Reiner Smolinski and Melissa Merritt ABSTRACT Scholarship on Emerson to date has not considered Spinoza’s influence upon his thought. Indeed, from his lifetime until the twentieth century, Emerson’s friends and disciples engaged in a concerted cover-up because of Spinoza’s hated name. However, Emerson mentioned his respect and admiration of Spinoza in his journals, letters, lectures, and essays, and Emerson’s thought clearly shows an importation of ideas central to Spinoza’s system of metaphysics, ethics, and biblical hermeneutics. In this essay, I undertake a biographical and philosophical study in order to show the extent of Spinoza’s influence on Emerson and
    [Show full text]
  • In Georgia (2003-2012)
    COUNTERBALANCING MARKETIZATION INFORMALLY: INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS AND INFORMAL ECONOMIC PRACTICES IN GEORGIA (2003-2012) By Lela Rekhviashvili Submitted to Central European University Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy and International Relations In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Supervisor: Professor Béla Greskovits (Word count 65,606) Budapest, Hungary CEU eTD Collection 2015 Abstract This dissertation explores the relationship between market-enhancing institutions and informal economic practices. It critically engages with the dominant perspective on informal economic practices (new institutionalism), and elaborates an alternative, Polanyian institutionalist perspective. Relying on the Polanyian framework, I argue that social inclusion and wellbeing of marginalised, informally operating persons and groups cannot be achieved through the establishment of market-enhancing institutions (as suggested by the new-institutionalist literature), unless institutions for social protection are also established. The prevalence of informality in an aspiring capitalist society is as much related to the lack of institutionalisation of protective measures as it is related to the lack of market supporting institutions. In a context in which the institutionalisation of market economy proceeds without institutionalisation of protective measures, societal resistance and defence against marketization - commodification of land labour and money - can shift to the informal realm. In other words,
    [Show full text]
  • DCFTA) – Is There a European Way for Georgia?1
    Prospect of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Prospect of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) – Is there a European Way for Georgia?1 Tamar Khuntsaria CSS Affiliated Fellow Abstract The negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the European Union (EU) are an important element of the current agenda of the EU-Georgia relations. Political dialogue between the Government of Georgia and the European Commission on DCFTA commenced soon after the August war in 2008 and aimed at opening official negotiations on DCFTA once structural and policy reforms set forth as preconditions by the EU were launched in Georgia. Early in 2010, official Tbilisi asserted that it had made a substantial progress with respect to the Commission‘s preconditions. Nonetheless, the Commission postponed the opening of official negotiations to January 2012 and announced DCFTA to be an integral part of the projected Association Agreement (AA) with Georgia – a far reaching and ambitious, and therefore, a lengthy document to conclude. This paper offers analysis of the possible impediments to concluding a DCFTA with Georgia. My arguments are based on three major factors hindering the process: First and foremost, Georgia‘s long term economic development model is uncertain. The country‘s ruling elite up until 2012 parliamentary election, dominated by an influential libertarian group, has maintained the government‘s ambivalent attitude towards the two fundamentally different ‗European‘ and ‗Singaporean‘ models of country‘s development. It is argued here that becoming a second Singapore is an obscure prospect for Georgia and that the best possible alternative for the country‘s long-term sustainable development is to follow the European path.
    [Show full text]
  • The Changing Pattern of Social Dialogue in Europe and the Influence of ILO and EU in Georgian Tripartism
    The Changing Pattern of Social Dialogue in Europe and the Influence of ILO and EU in Georgian Tripartism The Changing Pattern of Social Dialogue in Europe and the Influence of ILO and EU in Georgian Tripartism Francesco Bagnardi University of Bari Aldo Moro Abstract This paper aims to analyse the establishment of tripartite social dialogue practices at national level in the Republic of Georgia. The introduction of such practice is the result of European Union’s political pressures, International Labour Organization’s technical assistance and international trade unions confederations’ (namely the ETUC and the ITUC) support. After describing the practices of social dialogue in Western and Eastern Europe, the paper outlines, with a comparative viewpoint, the process that led to the establishment of a national commission for a tripartite social dialogue between government and organized social partners in Georgia. A particular attention is paid to the pressure, leverage and technical help provided by the aforementioned international actors in this process. Moreover, the research illustrates the main achievements and failures of tripartitism in Georgia, as well as the principal constraints that limit the effectiveness of this practice. It is therefore analysed the influence that possible future development of tripartite dialogue between government and social partners can have on the social, economic and political development of the country as a whole. Introduction The tripartite Social Dialogue - which includes all types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between representative of governments, employers and workers - is a fundamental part of the European Social Model (ESM)’s development agenda and a basic inspiring pillar of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Rise of the Georgian Extreme-Right: Lessons from the EU
    Rise of the Georgian Extreme-right: Lessons from the EU Tomáš Baranec1 Executive Summary Discussion about the Georgian extreme-right is generally complicated by a lack of conceptualization and very undisciplined use of terms such as fascist or neo-Nazi. The lack of conceptualisation prevents us from properly understanding the character of this phenomenon. The Georgian extreme-right is not a united fascist or neo-Nazi front. Two most prominent groups right from the moderate right, the Alliance of patriots of Georgia (APG) and the Georgian March, are right-wing populist in the first case and extreme-right in the second one. Only quite visible, but still marginal, Georgian unity can be considered to be a truly fascist party. Groups labelled as extreme-right in Georgia are united in their disgust to liberalism, promotion of LGBT rights and Muslim migration. However, they differ significantly in their aims and means. Georgian extreme-right is not a stable and rigid phenomenon. Since 2012, we can observe its evolution on both horizontal and vertical axes. Horizontally, we see a unification of small dispersed groups into a wider movement able to communicate and participate together on rallies. Vertically, these groups which evolved from clusters of mobilized individuals participating in rallies organized by the Church into political parties able to enter parliament or independently stage major counter- rallies. 1 Tomáš Baranec is a graduate of Charles University in Prague. His research interests include nationalism and factors of ethnic conflicts and separatism in the Caucasus. He was part of the Stratpol Young Professionals Program 2018. © 2018 · STRATPOL · [email protected] · +421 908 893 424 · www.stratpol.sk Roots nurturing the growth of the Georgian extreme-right are local.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberal Neutrality and the Challenges of Pluralist Liberalism in Georgia
    Liberal Neutrality and the Challenges of Pluralist Liberalism in Georgia Davit Zedelashvili Assistant Professor, Free University of Tbilisi, Georgia BYU Law and Religion Symposium, “Religious Rights in a Pluralistic World” Provo, Washington DC, October 1-7,2016 Peculiarities of Context- Byzantine “symphonia” with strong Russian “Caesarist” flavor Empire and the suppression of political nation in favor of cultural nation Totalitarian experiment as the first experience of “modernization” right after the serfdom Constitutional framework- The “inventiveness” of constitutional agreement between the state and orthodox church. What does “recognition” really stand for? Church’s social power and its political significance- Diffusion of Church’s power through traditional family, kinship, clan, neighborhood and other informal social institutions; Constitutional Court’s Approach to Neutrality – Refusal to enforce religious morality through litigation and judicial enforcement- The ouster of the court jurisdiction over the content of the Public Broadcaster’s programs deemed constitutionally justified restriction of the plaintiff’s right to access to the courts- The “Orthodox Parents’ Case” (2009) Conscientious Objection Case (2011) – Denial of conscientious objection to reservists is deemed a violation of absolutely protected core of “forum internum”. State’s duty to accommodate freedom of belief vis a vis legitimate aims and constitutional duties of citizen; Rejection of Parliament’s argument on the “impossibility of checking the sincerity of belief”. The court underlined that state’s power to check “sincerity of belief” would be close to state’s role of assessing the legitimacy of belief- the power categorically denied to the state under the constitution. Church FOIA Case (2016)- Constitutional court ruled that Orthodox Church is exempt from freedom of information duties even when the FOI requests concern the spending of state funds.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on the Implementation of Georgia's European
    REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GEORGIA’S EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY ACTION PLAN Georgian NGO Coalition Tbilisi 2009 Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 3 Priority Area 1: Strengthening the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights ...............................3 Media ........................................................................................................................................3 Elections ...................................................................................................................................3 Judiciary, Courts, Police and Penitentiary System ......................................................................4 Priority Area 3: Sustainable Development, Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection .......... 4 General Social Protections in the Economic Field...................................................................... 4 Environmental Protection ......................................................................................................... 5 Priority Area 8: Transport and Energy ........................................................................................... 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Priority Area 1: Strengthening the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights ...............................7 Freedom of Media ..................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Regulation and State Interventions. Georgia's Move From
    Forschungspapiere Research Papers No. 2013/03 PFH.FOR.143.1306 Economic Regulation and State Interventions. Georgia’s Move from Neoliberalism to State Managed Capitalism Christian Timm PFH Private Hochschule Göttingen Forschungspapiere Research Papers | 2013/03 The Author Christian Timm Christian Timm is a researcher at PFH Goettingen and works within the framework of the research network „Institutions and Institutional Change in Postsocialism“ funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). His research focu- ses on state- economy relations and economic policy in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. He holds a degree from Euro- pean- University Viadrina and is a PhD candidate at Humboldt- University Berlin. Economic'Regulation'and'State'Interventions.' Georgia’s'Move'from'Neoliberalism'to'State<Managed' Capitalism' Christian Timm (PFH Göttingen)1 Abstract: This paper explores the change in the Georgian economic policy from neo-liberalism to state-managed capitalism that occurred between 2003 and 2012. Centering on the distributive effect of institutions, the analysis reveals the underlying dynamic of that policy change. The paper argues that the introduction of a radical liberal regulatory environment contributed significantly to the development of informal state interventions in the economy. However, the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 destroyed the increasingly undermined FDI- oriented liberal development model and forced the government to alter its economic policy. By relying on established informal instruments of intervention and the development of an official economic development agenda, a specific form of state-managed capitalism evolved in Georgia in the period that followed. A. Introduction' There have been two perspectives to study state-business relations in Georgia between 2003 and 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • The EU's Hegemonic Interventions in the South Caucasus: Constructing
    The EU’s hegemonic interventions in the South Caucasus: constructing ‘civil’ society, depoliticising human rights? Laura Luciani, Centre for EU Studies, Department of Political Sciences, Ghent University (Universiteitstraat 8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium); [email protected] NOTE: This is the Accepted Manuscript of an article published by SAGE in Cooperation and Conflict on 03 September 2020 (online first), available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0010836720954478 Please cite as: Luciani, L. (2021) The EU’s hegemonic interventions in the South Caucasus: Constructing ‘civil’ society, depoliticising human rights?, Cooperation and Conflict, 56(1):101-120. DOI: 10.1177/0010836720954478. Abstract This article draws upon poststructuralist and postcolonial theories to examine the European Union’s (EU’s) policies of human rights promotion in the South Caucasus – notably, the EU’s engagement with local human rights activists and organisations in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Contrary to most literature, which has been concerned with policy (in)effectiveness, this article is interested in problematising the discursive foundations of this EU-civil society ‘partnership’ in the realm of human rights promotion, as well as in retrieving the agency of actors who are ‘at the receiving end’ of EU policies. It is argued that the discursive construction of ‘civil’ society as a ‘good-Other’ of the EU-Self serves as a means to depoliticise the EU’s interventions, aiming at the approximation of ‘transitioning’ countries to the EU’s human rights standards. Although the hegemonic relation requires subaltern actors to perform the ‘civil’ society identity, processes of hybridisation and subversion arise as external interventions interact with local realities and meanings.
    [Show full text]