Beyond a “varieties of capitalism” approach in Central and Eastern Europe. Some lessons from Ukraine
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425451111142701 |
Date | 28 June 2011 |
Pages | 413-427 |
Published date | 28 June 2011 |
Author | Colin C. Williams,Sara Nadin,Peter Rodgers |
Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
Beyond a “varieties of capitalism”
approach in Central and
Eastern Europe
Some lessons from Ukraine
Colin C. Williams
Centre for Regional Economic and Enterprise Development (CREED),
Management School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, and
Sara Nadin and Peter Rodgers
Management School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Abstract
Purpose – Since the turn of the millennium, a small corpus of post-structuralist thought has
emerged that challenges the dominant belief that capitalism is now hegemonic and that all economic
formations are contrasting varieties of capitalism. This paper seeks to contribute to thedevelopment of
this emergent perspective. The aim is to challenge the notion that the Ukrainian economy can be
represented as some variety of capitalism by highlighting the shallow permeation of capitalist
practices into daily life and the continuing prevalence of multifarious non-capitalist economic
practices.
Design/methodology/approach – To achieve this, evidence is here reported from a 2005-6 survey
that analysed the extent to which 600 households in Ukraine used capitalist and non-capitalist
economic practices in their coping tactics.
Findings – This reveals not only the limited use of capitalist practices in the everyday coping tactics
of households in Ukraine but also how an array of non-capitalist economic practices remain heavily
relied on by a majority of households to secure their livelihood. The outcome is a call to tentatively
reject the “varieties of capitalism” system of meaning because of what it excludes, prohibits and
denies, and to open up the future of post-Soviet Ukraine to other possible trajectories than simply some
variety of capitalism.
Research limitations/implications – This snapshot survey of the everyday coping practices of
households displays only that capitalist practices are not hegemonic and that multifarious economic
relations persist and are widespread. It does not show whether or not there is movement towards
greater reliance on capitalist practices.
Originality/value – It begins through the presentation of evidence on Ukraine to tentatively
challenge the application of a “varieties of capitalism” perspective towards Central and Eastern
European economies.
Keywords Varieties of capitalism, Transition economies,Economic development, Ukraine,
Central and EasternEurope
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
This paper arises out of a project entitled “Surviving post-socialism: evaluating the role of the
informal sector in Ukraine”, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (Grant No.:
RES000220985) in the UK.
Beyond
“varieties of
capitalism”
413
Employee Relations
Vol. 33 No. 4, 2011
pp. 413-427
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425451111142701
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