Upcoming Edition on the Future of Work: Call for Papers

The next edition of the Green European Journal will foray into one of the most sensitive and urgent topics of the 21st century: the future of work. By looking at the changing nature of work, the social and technological developments that alter its meaning, and its centrality to how society functions, the Journal intends to connect studies, analyses, essays, and experiences from around Europe to explore what are, and what could be, Green and forward-looking policies, political ideas, and proposals.

The concept and practice of work have been central to European societies, in both their history and traditions. Since the industrial revolution, work has become more than ever the fabric of our social and political organisation, structuring countless struggles as well as our idea of social justice and taxation. Human labour is the key to the creation of economic value in our production-oriented industrial systems, while the varying definitions of what is or what is not ‘work’ has been discriminatory and exclusive, often ignoring important social activities such as caring for past and future generations. Work has also secularised its religious central moral value, to the extent of overshadowing other aspects of social life and leading to an increase of work-related pathologies.

In spite of the myth of job-robbing robots, we still live in a world where ‘work’ and ‘human labour’ shape our social and economic systems – from economic redistribution to globalisation’s economic division of labour, to education systems to non-formal labour activities, to our very concept of time and ‘free’ time. But work as we know it is poised for major changes in the near future, with the changing nature of economic activities, accelerating automation and artificial intelligence, and societal changes that affect how ‘work’ is valued, defined, and recognised. It is therefore of utmost urgency to reconsider what ‘work and ‘human labour’ mean for our societies and social order.

Greens and many strands of political ecology have long been at the forefront of different approaches to ‘work’ when compared with advocates of neoclassical and growth-oriented economics. Productive work in its most restrictive sense has never, for the Greens, been the sole provider of social dignity, economic wealth, social justice, or solidarity. Given the current European economic and unemployment crises, the necessary rethinking of our welfare systems and ideas, and the massive structural changes work and the workforce are undergoing, it is imperative for Greens to put the question of the future of work at the heart of their political vision.

Approach

Contributions should provide perspectives from different levels and approaches that explore different facets of the theme future of work in Europe, as well as voicing distinctive Green visions, measures, and lessons.

Some topics this edition will address include:

  • Centrality of work to European societies: how can we rethink social order and political struggles in a world where the meaning of work is changing?
  • Welfare state sustainability (or lack thereof): based on the notion of economic growth and full employment, the very idea of the welfare state is today questioned. How can we achieve social justice in a world where work is changing?
  • Future of employment and social dialogue: can the EU be the space for renewed social dialogue, and a common labour policy that ensures equality of treatment and rights for all EU citizens? Can the EU be the space for rethinking work in the 21st century (green jobs, reduced working time, changing gendered division of labour etc.)?
  • Robotisation and artificial intelligence: said to steal human jobs in decades to come, what do robots tell us about the necessity of rethinking work in today’s world?
  • Mobility, migrations and employment: how should we approach migration in a political climate where most mobility is understood in terms of ‘people taking our jobs’?

 

While the Green European Journal is a political journal that focuses on today’s realities, it strives to look beyond daily politics. All types of contributions are welcome: analytical and global articles or interviews; political and policy articles or interviews; case studies, feature stories or forward-looking pieces.

Deadlines and Editorial Requirements

The 17th edition of the Green European Journal has no intention of publishing only theoretical and academic articles on the issue. Far from that, we want to publish lively texts and interviews to stimulate thought and debate. All kinds of contributions that pursue this aim and go beyond daily politics to contribute to European and local Green vision or approach are welcome.

Potential contributions should be sent to laurent.standaert@gef.eu and jamie.kendrick@gef.eu.

The articles in a language other than English should be sent before 21 January 2018. Articles in English should be sent before 28 January 2018.

The Green European Journal currently accepts submissions in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, Greek, Finnish, Swedish, and Dutch. Articles in other languages should be accompanied by an abstract in one of the above languages.

We strongly advise you to send a brief summary, a presentation of the author, and the overall length in English of the proposed article, before submitting an article, or a final draft.

Before submitting an article, please read our Editorial Guidelines carefully .