Francesco Garibaldo - Böcker

Participation is a social process, which is basically part of an exchange relationship. Thus, it is principally pluralist and ambiguous in its meaning. As a consequence, the reconciliation of voices needs innovative approaches to support balanced participation experiences. The ambivalent character of participation intends to provide a look at new initiatives in the various fields of work­place participation. Leading international scholars examine the role of institutional contexts for participation, the development of new forms of interest organisation as well as the relationship between organisational performance, participation practices and quality of working life. The contributions are not limited to taking stock of new experiences in the field of workplace participation, but also contribute to designing a new research agenda.

Through a detailed reconstruction of American rearmament programs to Italy from the birth of NATO through the implementation of multilateral military assistance during the early 1950s, this research challenges the idea that the end of reconstruction marked a striking American shift from economic aid to defense policies. The case study of Italy highlights the impact that the defense procurement contracts had both on monetary stability and balance of payments, as well as the integration of the Italian products within the infant European trade area. This monograph demonstrates that through military assistance the United States promoted balance of payments equilibrium and expansionary domestic aggregate demand to lay down the foundation of a mass consumption market. Furthermore, this work makes the point that the Italian elites resorted to Italy’s industrial role as production source for NATO to both export manufactured products to the West European economies and import high added value instrumental goods from the U.S. markets.