Fragmenting Societies? - A Comparative Analysis of Regional and Urban Development (Hardcover)

"Fragmenting Societies?" addresses a number of key themes in the debate about the nature of contemporary capitalist society. David Thorns poses the question as to whether present changes are creating a more fragmented society. Through a comparative historical analysis of Australia, New Zealand and Britain he examines the restructuring of the workforce, the shifts towards more flexible work practices, rising unemployment, the growth of individualism, regional and local diversity, and the creation of new social formations. Thorns challenges both the more economistic versions of the New International Division of Labour thesis and the ethnocentrism of much contemporary debate on regional change. He argues for an approach based in the distinct experiences of localities, regions and nation states. Detailed empirical data is provided for Australia, Britain and New Zealand covering such areas as economic and employment change, regional diversity, restructuring of the state sector, consumption and home ownership, local social resistances and responses to change.