In both academia as well as public discourse, globalization has turned into a prominent reference when discussing recent changes in contemporary societies. The majority of earlier literature,however, has largely restricted itself to the broader relationship between globalization and entire national economies, although there have been smaller studies that have investigated how globalization actually trickles down to the individual life course levels of modern European citizens, concentrating on single life course transitions. Based on contributions from international experts, this volume extends this perspective by providing an up-to-date account of globalizations influences on individual life courses in nine different European societies and of political strategies to mediate this influence. The authors provide ample evidence that globalization does not lead to an equivocal race to the bottom in modern welfare states but is mediated differently by nation-specific institutions. Furthermore, they show that employment insecurity is often channelled to specific disadvantaged groups, thereby amplifying existing inequality structures.
List of Tables List of Figures Preface Foreword; G. Esping-Andersen Notes on Contributors PART I: INTRODUCTION Globalized Labour Markets and Social Inequality in Europe; S. Buchholz, K.Kolb, D.Hofacker & H.Blossfeld PART II: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS ON CONSERVATIVE WELFARE REGIMES Selective Flexibilization and Deregulation of the Labour Market; S.Buchholz & K.Kolb The Flexibilization of the Dutch Labour Market; R.Wielers & M.Mills PART III: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS ON SOUTHERN EUROPEAN WELFARE REGIMES The Flexibilization of the Spanish Labour Market; J.Martinez Pastor & F.Bernardi Italy: No Country for Young Men (and Women); P.Barbieri PART IV: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS ON SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC WELFARE REGIMES A Recipe for Coping with the Challenge of Globalization?; D.Hofacker Changing Work-Life Inequality in Sweden; T.Korpi & M.Tahlin PART V: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS ON POST-SOCIALIST WELFARE REGIMES The Estonian Form of Globalization; J.Helemae & E.Saar From Guaranteed Employment to Job Competition; A.Baranowska PART VI: COUNTRY-SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION LIBERAL WELFARE REGIMES The Effects of Flexibilization on Social Divisions and Career Trajectories in the UK Labour Market; C.Purcell, M.Flynn, & U.Ayudhya PART VII: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The Flexibilization of European Labour Markets and the Development of Social Inequalities; D.Hofacker, S.Buchholz, K.Kolb, & H.Blossfeld Index