Unpublished,
Institutionalism , Institutional Change and Policy Networks in European Industrial Relations
(2007)
Abstract
With the partial shift in Industrial Relations from national to European level through Europe’s increasing economic integration as a result of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), introduction of European Companies (Societae Europeaes, SEs) and European Works’ Councils (EWCs) there has also been a change in how institutions function. This change is yet to fully occur, but we may already see some tendencies towards it. This paper discusses the mechanisms in new institutionalism and institutional change applied to European Industrial Relations and structuring of cooperation in collective bargaining. Policy network analysis and on a wider scale network analysis can show what roles different actors have in the field of European Industrial Relations system through showing both the formal and informal connections between them and how decisions are being formulated. As a cross-cutting theme throughout this paper is power in organizations/system that can be seen through networks and institutions.
