Working life in Sweden and market fundamentalism...

“The Culture of the New Capitalism”

From a review of "The Culture of the New Capitalism" by Richard Sennett and a paper for a university degree by Kristina Finnholm here in Sweden (see my earlier blogposting in Swedish about this review here, here is my amateur-translation from Swedish to English of parts of this earlier posting):

“…the new capitalism’s culture creates non-free people.”

Contrary to what we are told.

“…it was long since the state and the capitalism created a common security/safety with long-term relations./…/

…when the big institutions have become fragmented peoples’ lives have become fragmented too.

…Sweden and Norway [can be stressed] as good societal experiments. The social democrat welfare model showed that stable societies aren’t economically stationary or stagnant.

Here a successful combination of relative stability and growth was combined (or shown). On top we had managed to combine a more fair distribution of the welfare and a generally seen higher standard of living, internationally seen, than USA and England.”

I think this is true. And possible to create in other countries too.

“The physical work environment has in many ways improved, but not the psychosocial work environment. A new human being is about to become created. A person that rejects his/her history and lets go of her/his past. A human being living in short-sightedness.”

This felt so good to read, because I think it’s sound, psychologically, to have contact with ones history and past, ad thus confirmed feelings I have. It feels so good realizing one isn't alone in those feelings.

“The market has become the superior norm beyond dispute forming human beings.”

No, we haven't been and still aren’t really allowed to question the market as superior norm beyond dispute!

“However, the sociological research has for a long time shown that most human beings don’t function in this way. We need a constantly continuing life-narrative containing a confirmation that we are clever craftsmen/women (or workmen/women) at the same time as we are glad for the experiences we have gotten [during our lives, both as private people and in working life, glad and proud over them when there are reasons for this. But when we aren't: why is that??].

The new ideal in working life more resemble the dream about the consumer glad for buying. The one whom is prepared to reject everything that is old and replace it with new things - even if these old things are fully functional.”

And we treat human beings in this way too! Replacing old people, throwing them away... But of course you can wonder why? Do they deserve it?

”In those days there are no margins or social considerations among the employers any more/…/

…increased economical growth doesn’t automatically lead to more jobs. This mantra – economical growth – stands out like a fundamentalist religion. A sort of natural law you definitely can’t call in question. Many have lost their jobs even when companies have shown record profits.

…many companies ignore their employees./…/

There is also a blind faith in consults. Many industrial managements have no self-confidence and put their trust to this consult whose business concept in fact is both about being salesman and adviser. How many are capable of examining the consults suggestions and recommendations?

In praxis it is exactly those consults that are governing the companies at the market. All are frightened to silence and the treadmill [ekorrhjul] is spinning more and more violently.

Nobody dare to protest. All are exchangeable. The stress is increasing as the social maladjustment. The one not managing the pressure has nothing at work to do. The problem is your own, nobody else’s [that about blaming the victim]. Is this the sort of working life we shall have? Is this sort of working life, and world, a natural law? How far shall the market powers govern? The four-part-alliance closed The National Institute for Working Life here in Sweden. The work environment at Swedish working places didn’t improve by this.”