The International Institute of Social History is working on a Global Collaboratory on the History of Labour Relations in the period 1500-2000. In this project we want to make an inventory of all types of labour relations worldwide, varying from slavery, indentured labour and share cropping, to free wage labour and self-employment from 1500 up until today.
Our aim is first to gather statistical data on the occurrence of all types of labour relations in all parts of the world during five cross-sections in time, i.e. 1500, 1650, 1800, 1900 and 2000. Then we would like to develop an international research proposal aimed at explaining the rise and decline of types of labour relations from 1500 to 2000.
More information on the project can be found on the IISH collaboratory website:
- definitions of labour relations,
- taxonomy,
- Code book and manual for gathering and entering data,
- project results
Publications:
- Marcelo Badaró Mattos et al (eds), Relações Laborais em Portugal e no Mundo Lusófono. Historia e Demografia. Lisbon: Edições Colibri 2014
- History in Africa with a special section on Labour Relations on Sub-Saharan Africa
- Diálogos with a special section on Labour Relations in the Lusophone world
- see also the special Issue of the IRSH: The Joy and Pain of Work. Global Attitudes and Valuations 1500-1650, edited by Karin Hofmeester and Christine Moll-Murata
If you want more information about the project, please contact Prof. Dr. Karin Hofmeester: kho@iisg.nl.
The project is sponsored by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung, Düsseldorf and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
See also: