POST-FORDIST LEISURE AND WORK

The main question of this article is how transitions towards a post-Fo rdist economy influence debates over leisure and work. First, the trad itional separation of leisure from work is related to the specific con text of a Fordist economy. Next, the concept of post-Fordism is addres sed. Conceptual dedifferentiation and temporal flexibilization are con sidered the most important characteristics of post-Fordism as regards debates over leisure and work. Five debates over leisure and work are then distinguished, of which two are further elaborated upon. First, i t is illustrated how de-differentiation undermines attempts to separat e leisure from work, stressing the need for more contextual analyses. Second, flexibilization is shown to alter debates over time sovereignt y by the introduction of the dimension of the temporal location of wor king time and leisure. The article concludes with suggestions for futu re research.