Universität Wien

070295 SE Seminar - Free and Unfree Labor Relations in Global Perspective, 17th Century to the Present (2020S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

There will be extra sessions to attend on the 11.3.2020 (13:15-14:45; SR 14 am Oskar Morgenstern Platz); 20.04.2020 (15.00-18.15; Seminarraum 3; Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1; 1.Stock) and 22.05.2020 (09.45-13.00; Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1; 1.Stock). There will be no class on the 7.5.2020.

  • Thursday 05.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 19.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 26.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 02.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 20.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 23.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 30.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 14.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Friday 22.05. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 28.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 14 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

What is the difference between free and unfree labor? Which continuities and ruptures can be discerned in labor relations from antiquity to the “medieval” and modern periods? Which role did and do servitude, coerced labor and chattel slavery play in comparison to self-employment and wage labor in the emergence and dynamics of capitalism? For Marx and orthodox Marxists it was especially those labor relations based on wage labor that enabled the reproduction of industrial capitalism. On the other hand, heterodox Marxists and some adherents of Global Labor History caution that unfree labor relations have not decreased. To the contrary, they point out that forms of unfree labor have increased throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of these topics and other similar themes will be examined in the course of this seminar. The main focus is on the period between the 18th and 20th centuries even though earlier and later periods will also be touched upon. Finally, we will discuss what we might learn from these debates with regard to labor relations in the 21st century.

Assessment and permitted materials

Oral presentations of 15-20 minutes per person (teamwork is possible).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are required to regularly attend the seminar (only two missed classes are permissible). Furthermore, attendees are expected to continuously participate throughout the semester with weekly reading and writing assignments. Oral presentations of 15-20 minutes per person (teamwork is possible) – based on topics other than the required reading assignments – are an integral part of the students’ task. Marks are based on a) active participation in class (25%) b); oral presentations (25%); and a written paper of ca. 15 pages (50%).

Examination topics

Marks are based on a) active participation in class (25%) b); oral presentations (25%); and a written paper of ca. 15 pages (50%).

Reading list

Introductory Reading: Hugo Soly, Catharina Lis, Worthy Efforts: Attitudes to Work and Workers in Pre-Industrial Europe, Leiden 2012; Marcel van der Linden, Workers of the World: Essays Toward a Global Labor History, Leiden 2008; Tom Brass, Labour Markets, Identities, Controversies: Reviews and Essays, 1982-2016, Leiden 2017

Association in the course directory

Epoche: Neuzeit, Zeitgeschichte
Aspekte: Globalgeschichte

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:20