Trade union internationalism im the age of Seattle

It is widely recognised within and around the labour movement that labour ( as wage work, as class identity, in the trade union form, as a partner in i ndustrial relations, as a radical-democratic social movement, as a part of civil society) is in profound crisis. Even more is this the case for labour as an international movement at a time in which the old international capi talist order is being challenged by the new capitalist disorder. Recovery r equires a critique of traditional labour internationalism, reconceptualisat ion, new kinds of analysis and a new dialogue and dialectic between interes ted parties. Presented here in turn are the following: (1) a critique of th e union internationalism of the national/industrial/colonial era; (2) a rec onceptualisation of unionism and labour internationalism appropriate to a g lobalised/networked/informatised capitalist era; (3) the millennial dialogu e on labour and globalisation; and (4) the role of communication, culture a nd the new information and communication technology. The conclusion stresse s the centrality of networking, communication and dialogue to the creation of a new labour internationalism. An extended resource list on internationa l unionism is attached.