The Destructuring and Restructuring of Global Labor Markets

The paper is divided into five sections. The first section debates the shifts in trade, competition and explains the factors behind the capitalist developmental state in East Asia in geo-political terms and in view of the financial crisis which started in 1997.  The second part deals with the shift in global labor markets and industrial relations. The third part situates more squarely the impact of globalization on the catching-up strategies of Russia and China, while the next section digs into the transformation of the industrial relations regimes in Russia and China in comparative perspective. Finally, the paper rounds up by pointing to the main similarities and differences between industrial relations, work and labor market regulation in Russia and China, but also with implications for a broader context. In order to come to terms with the crisis of former socialist type societ­ies it is important to rethink the political and social change which has taken place and to critical­ly analyze the premises, policies and results.