Ruy Braga

O PÊNDULO OSCILANTE - sociologia do trabalho e movimento sindical no Brasil

The present paper analyzes the relationship established between sociology of labor and the unionism in Brazil. That is done by covering three moments of that relationship. Having as a backdrop the successive political and economical conjunctures, we go from that first generation of work sociologists to the recent period, trying to identify the most characteristic points in that trajectory. We work with the hypothesis according to which, along its trajectory, sociology of labor in Brazil was marked, in its origins, by the search for affirmation and professionalism (1950/1960); later, it developed a strong political and social engagement, assuming a public character and serving to conform to certain social identities (1970/ 1980); finally, it would have turned into a sociology for public policies (1990/2000).

SOCIOLOGIA PÚBLICA: engajamento e crítica social em debate

Em agosto de 2004, Michael Burawoy, co-nhecido sociologo e etnografo marxista do trabalho,foi eleito presidente da Associacao SociologicaAmericana (ASA). Como ocorre rotineiramente comos presidentes recem-eleitos, ele contava com umano para preparar sua conferencia presidencial, pois,nessa associacao, a eleicao dista em doze meses daposse nas funcoes. T endo ja desenvolvido uma re-flexao a respeito da sociologia contemporânea – so-bre os diversos tipos contemporâneos de sociologiae de sociologos, trabalhando dentro e fora das uni-versidades –, ele decidiu consagrar sua conferenciaa esse tema: a “sociologia publica”.O resultado de um ano de debate com dife-rentes publicos foi um estudo aprofundado acercadas multiplas praticas sociologicas contemporâne-as – pensadas, naturalmente, a partir do exemploestadunidense –, mas buscando sempre dialogarcom as demais realidades nacionais.

Brazil: The Swinging Pendulum Between Labor Sociology and Labor Movement

In this article, the authors analyze the relationship between labor sociology and trade unionism in Brazil by focusing on its three key phases. Against the backdrop of successive political and economical scenarios, the authors go from the first generation of labor sociologists to the most recent period, trying to identify the transition points in this trajectory. This study develops the hypothesis that labor sociology in Brazil was first characterized by a search for affirmation and professionalization (1950-1960). Later, it developed a strong political—social engagement, and assumed a public character, by claiming particular social identities (1970-1980). Finally, it flowed toward policy sociology (1990-2000).In this article, the authors analyze the relationship between labor sociology and trade unionism in Brazil by focusing on its three key phases. Against the backdrop of successive political and economical scenarios, the authors go from the first generation of labor sociologists to the most recent period, trying to identify the transition points in this trajectory. This study develops the hypothesis that labor sociology in Brazil was first characterized by a search for affirmation and professionalization (1950-1960). Later, it developed a strong political—social engagement, and assumed a public character, by claiming particular social identities (1970-1980). Finally, it flowed toward policy sociology (1990-2000).

DINÂMICAS DA AÇÃO COLETIVA NO BRASIL CONTEMPORÂNEO: encontros e desencontros entre o sindicalismo e a juventude trabalhadora

Tendo em vista o lugar tradicional dos sindicatos como canal de organizacao e conducao de conflitividade na sociedade brasileira, o artigo se propoe articular a reconfiguracao das classes sociais no Brasil contemporâneo, as manifestacoes atuais da inquietacao social e a situacao dos sindicatos frente a essa nova configuracao. A especial enfase ao papel dos sindicatos nesta nova conjuntura global parte da premissa de que as diferentes respostas dos sindicatos nacionais ao advento do protagonismo politico da juventude trabalhadora em condicoes precarias de vida e de trabalho representam uma oportunidade privilegiada de observacao das atuais reconfiguracoes classistas em contextos de crise.

A precarious hegemony: neo-liberalism, social struggles, and the end of Lulismo in Brazil

ABSTRACT Analysis of Brazil’s political and economic crisis tends to emphasize the economic ‘errors’ that President Dilma Rousseff’s Workers’ Party (PT) government inherited from her predecessor Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva. It is clear, however, that political regulation is too narrow a focus to understand the current crisis. Such an explanation is unable to reveal the changes in class structure that took place during the Lula era as well as the effects of the international economic crisis. This article identifies the limits of the Brazilian development model and the main features of Lula’s mode of regulation; analyses the conflicts produced by the neo-liberal regime of accumulation and the Lulista mode of regulation, emphasizing the role of precarious work in the current historical cycle of strikes and popular struggles in Brazil; and, finally, interprets the palace coup promoted by the social forces behind the impeachment of President Rousseff.