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SUMMARY:An Explanation of Unfree Labour - Wendy Olsen and Jamie Mogan\, Un
 iversity of Manchester
DTSTART:20090309T200000Z
DTEND:20090309T220000Z
UID:TALK17304@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:13364
DESCRIPTION:The conceptual basis and significance of unfree labour in the 
 context of modern economic systems has been a matter of dispute within dev
 elopment studies. Much of the dispute has focused on two strands of argume
 nt. First\, whether in fact unfree labour is a vestige of socio-economic r
 elations prior to capitalism that have merely persisted and will simply wh
 ither away as particular societies are increasingly organized around capit
 alist relations\, or whether in fact\, forms of unfree labour can develop 
 and evolve that are compatible with and/or products of capitalist relation
 s. Second\, whether the research\, theorisation and argument of particular
  individuals within or relevant to the field of development have involved 
 discursive reversals and tensions because they have failed to provide a co
 nsistent position on the first issue and have failed to adequately acknowl
 edge that this has been so. At first sight this may seem a purely academic
  matter in the pejorative sense. However\, both hinge on the clarity and f
 unction of theory in orienting research and shaping our understanding of t
 he world. Confusion begets ambiguity and conceptual failings create misdir
 ection. Eradicating unfreedom requires that its forms be recognised\, its 
 sources be effectively traced\, and its systemic significance be explicate
 d. As such\, the dispute is not\, in a ‘greater scheme of things’ sens
 e\, an irrelevance. At the same time\, it is one that can be contributed t
 o in various ways.
LOCATION:CRASSH Seminar Room\, 17 Mill Lane
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