Labour Law in the Age of Populism: Towards Sustainable Democratic Engagement

26 Pages Posted: 24 Jul 2018

See all articles by Alan L. Bogg

Alan L. Bogg

University of Bristol

Mark R. Freedland

University of Oxford - Faculty of Law

Date Written: July 24, 2018

Abstract

This paper examines the claim that we have passed from the ‘Age of Neoliberalism’ to the ‘Age of Populism’. It examines the concept of populism and it explores the linkages between populism and the regulation of personal work relations in the UK and Europe, arguing that precarious work relations have engendered precarious democracies. Following the work of the political theorist Jan-Werner Muller, it identifies antipluralism as the defining characteristic of populism. It sets out a vision for an anti-populist labour law in terms of ‘democratic citizenship at work’, and it connects this to Kahn-Freund’s historic work on the ‘pluralistic constitution’. This provides a basis for sustainable work relations and sustainable democratic institutions in the polity.

Keywords: populism, nationalism, Brexit, migration, labour rights

Suggested Citation

Bogg, Alan L. and Freedland, Mark R., Labour Law in the Age of Populism: Towards Sustainable Democratic Engagement (July 24, 2018). Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law (MPIL) Research Paper No. 2018-15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3219185 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3219185

Alan L. Bogg (Contact Author)

University of Bristol ( email )

WIlls Building
Queens Road
Bristol, BS8 1RJ
United Kingdom

Mark R. Freedland

University of Oxford - Faculty of Law ( email )

St. Cross Building
St. Cross Road
Oxford, OX1 3UJ
United Kingdom

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