We, the people at work: propositions for revitalizing industrial democracy through the use of Étienne Balibar’s concepts

Current debates in social and political studies raise concerns about a ‘democratic deficit’ in society. Critical debates in work, employment and industrial relations raise similar concerns about intensified employer and managerial power and weak workers’ voice in substantive decision-making in organizations and workplaces. This article proposes that consideration of philosopher Étienne Balibar’s conceptions of post-national social citizenship, droit de cité, popular sovereignty and ‘worksites of democracy’ can usefully stimulate renewed discussion on substantive industrial and organizational democracy. The article argues that development of a radically social citizenship disrupts the hegemony of liberal notions of ownership and of employment contractual relations. Expansive social citizenship enables emancipatory movement beyond congealed adversarial conventions and towards a democracy understood as continually reflexive cooperation. The article illustratively addresses theoretical and practical implications for the regulation of work, employee participation and corporate governance, especially in European companies.