Models of labour and production: the origins and contemporary limitations of the Anglo-American model

The general global developments, the focus on the competitivity of nations in the world economy and the introduction of new production systems and techniques have brought into question the viability of the existing hegemonic model of labour and production. The Anglo-American model, variously known as the Anglo-Saxon, Atlantic, or "Texan" model of labour and production, which has enjoyed an ascendancy for the past century, has seen its hegemonic power at the global level weaken in the contemporary period. This article argues that this situation posits the need to examine the origins and hidden assumptions of the current hegemonic model before any meaningful discourse can be launched concerning successor models or the definitive move to a multi-model world. For this reason the nature of a hegemonic model of labour and production and its historic and current developments of the model, especially concerning labour-related issues are discussed. It is argued that the assumptions relating to labour control in traditional industrialisation theory of Weber, Marx, Rostow and Kerr supported the incorporation of the unique historic experience of the United Kingdom in the last century to produce an identifiable model. This in turn was modified by the special conditions in the USA in this century to enable elements associated with the names of Ford, Taylor and Keynes to be integrated in the model. The belief that other models, such as the so-called "Rhinelands" model and the Japanese model which have different origins and assumptions may be more suited to the current developments in production techniques, should not prevent the search for new models or adaptations better suited to current industrialisation.