Gregory Gourdin

The Medical Council in Belgian hospitals: A political perspective

Abstract Archetype-theory gained prominence in the literature dealing with the ‘‘managerialization’’ of professional organizations. However, this theory has been criticized. Due to its functionalist legacy it underplays the role of agency in the organizational structure or in its change. Following this critique we develop a political perspective on the relation profession – management. Such a view stresses the interlocking of organization and domination. However, control does not just apply to workers and work, a ‘rule by rules’ implies rulers are also object of regulation. Agency will be directed at having an impact on rule creation. In the end organizational structure is designed to control the agency of both profession and management. The elaboration of structure is not to be seen as a function of the qualities of work, or of organizational performance. Rather our analysis of the genesis of the medical council in Belgian hospitals suggest that it results out of agency within a specific policy process.

Emergence and development of medical unionism in Belgium. An Eliasian perspective

This article describes the emergence and development of Belgian medical unionism. Based on the insights of Norbert Elias on the professions, our perspective questions the connections between Belgian medical unionism and the historical evolution and institutionalization of human figurations, viewed as patterns of relationships between people and social positions. The emergence and development of medical unionism can be seen both as a consequence of the development of human figurations, and as a way for the people involved to get a grip on the relations of interdependence they live in, along with the consequences of this dependency for them.