Politics of the Precariat

Ruy Braga, Ph.D. (2002), University of Campinas, is professor in the Sociology Department at the University of São Paulo. He has published many books and articles on Brazil, including Hegemonia às avessas (Boitempo Editorial, 2010), along with Francisco de Oliveira, as well as Infoproletários (Boitempo Editorial, 2009), along with Ricardo Antunes.

• Table of Contents Preface Michael LöwyList of Tables and Figures Introduction Part 1 The Formation of the Reversal1 The Spectre of the People The Sociology of Modernisation Encounters the Working Class Unions in Peripheral Fordism Populism and the Migrant Precariat Between the Archaic and the Modern: An Ethnography of the Precariat Working-Class Archaeology: Populism in Reverse From Fordist Mirage to the Politics of the Precariat Final Considerations 2 The Fatalism of the Weak Sociology of Applied Work: The Limits of Bureaucratic Unionism Public Sociology of Work: Towards Working-Class Independence The Precarious Hegemony of Peripheral Fordism From Populism to Social Discontent (and Vice-versa) Critical Sociology of Work: Discontent as Disalienation For a Sociology of Working-Class Discontent Final Considerations Part 2 The Transformation of Hegemony in Reverse3 The Smile of the Exploited Work and Politics in São Bernardo The Despotic Factory Regime and the Metalworker Precariat Peons 1: From Contingent Consciousness to Necessary Consciousness Peons 2: From the Union Bureaucracy to the Metalworker Vanguard Peons 3: From Rank-and-File Rebellion to Strike Waves Precarious Hegemony: The Return of Bureaucratic Power? Final Considerations 4 The Anguish of the Subalterns Post-Fordism and the Neoliberal Company A Peripheral and Post-Fordist Precariat Discontent and Consent in the Call-Centre Industry Unionism in the Telemarketing Sector Lulista Hegemony: Between Social Discontent and Active Will Telemarketers: The Reverse of the Reverse Final Considerations Conclusion: "Let's Play That?" Interventions 1 Dilma and the Brazilian Utopia 2 Unrest in the Kitchen 3 Chronicle of an Unforgettable Month 4 For a Sociology Worthy of June 5 Rosa Parks in Itaquera 6 The Most Visible Colour 7 Challenging Hegemony 8 The Era of Pillage 9 The End of Lulism and the Palace Coup in Brazil Bibliography Index

“Basing himself extended ethnography, historical research, and Gramscian theory, Ruy Braga offers a brilliant diagnosis of the rise and fall of Brazil’s Workers’ Party, and of the fragility of the hegemony that held Brazil together for nearly 15 years. Necessary reading for anyone who wishes to understand the impasse of the present crisis.”—Michael Burawoy, Professor, University of California, Berkeley“Ruy Braga's new book is eminently radical, critical and subversive, inspired by an unyielding commitment to the cause of the 'precariat', its self-activity and its struggle for emancipation. This book proposes an innovative reading of the social history of Brazil from Fordist populism to the current political crisis.”—Michael Löwy, Emeritus Research Director in social sciences at the CNRS“Weaving together theoretical debate, historical analysis and ethnographic observation, Braga offers a brilliant portrayal of the contemporary Brazilian working class and creates a vibrant debate with European theorists of precarity.”—Peter Evans, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley“Braga's book has many merits [...] Despite focusing on the relationship between unions and precarious workers, it pays attention to alliances between unions and social movements, highlighting the interconnection between mobilisations in the sphere of production and reproduction.”—Andréia Galvão, Global Labour Journal“[A] fascinating and critical account of the precariat’s class politics in Brazil, from the 1950s till the end of Lula’s presidency.”—Hugo Goeury, Capital & Class