Towards A New Economic Order: Postfordism, Ecology and Democracy (Europe and the International Order)

In this new and original book, Alain Lipietz develops a challenging account of the economic and political forces which have shaped the world in the late twentieth century, and outlines a new political agenda for the future. Lipietz analyzes the Fordist model of economic development dominant in the postwar years, and shows how it can be seen to account for the political and economic crisis of the latter decades of the century.
Drawing on examples from the recent history of Europe, the Third World and North America, Lipietz argues that there are two intersecting economic reasons for the crisis: the changing international economy and the experience of reaching the limits of Fordist forms of production. He charts the responses of governments and businesses to the weaknesses of Fordism and their proposals for a postfordist future.
Lipietz presents a radical critique of the model for solving the crisis prevalent in Anglo-Saxon countries, and outlines his own proposals for its solution, based on the values of solidarity, the autonomy of individuals and ecological responsibility. He puts forward an alternative set of progressive measures to address the social changes of the late twentieth century - the reorganization of work, the future of professional relations, the reform of the welfare state, the development of free time and changes in international relations.
Towards a New Economic Order is a major contribution to the study of the political economy of Europe in the last decades of the century. It will be welcomed by students, researchers and practitioners in economics, political science, ecology and international relations.