Self-Identification Of Workers And Politics Of Production In Changes Of State-Owned Enterprises

Since the society transformed from a traditional one to a modern one, the rise of capital has completely changed the social form and institution. The relationship between labor and capital is an important subject in the research of social structure and stratification. After Karl Marx posited the division and struggle between the two classes, the labor exploitation and control by capital and the workers' struggles become the theoretical focus. Theorists from different eras proposed many different explanations for important issues, such as the degree of labor alienation, the intensity of exploitation, the execution of powder and control, the subjective action of the workers, the formation of class consciousness and the possibility of class action. Nonetheless, many scholars believe that labor and capital remain in a dual relationship no matter it is laisser-faire capitalism, monopoly capitalism or capitalism in the economic globalization age. Based on their continuous observation on fields of production, they found that relationship between labor and capital is now transiting from direct and dominant control to indirect and recessive control, from structuration and coercive force to active participation, from passive acceptance to proactive revolt. The question they are trying to answer is whether there still is class struggle within the production process of capitalism. If there is none, then what have happened in the production process of capitalism? My study will follow the previous work on the politics of production analysis of capital and labor. In my current study, I will continue to investigate the relationship between self-identification and politics of production within the state-owned enterprises during the historical transition.After more than thirty years of market-oriented reform, the Chinese society is experiencing dramatic transition in all areas. With the rise of capital and establishment of China as"World Factory", the structural imbalance and the differentiation of class and stratum also intensify. People in academia are now calling for"Return to Karl Marx and class analysis". Based on this historical and research background, I chose a very subjective perspective, i.e the worker's self-identification, and analyzed politics of production, interactions and transitions between capital and labor in the field of factory production, spanning from planned economy, the beginning of reform, the fully market-oriented economy stage, to private enterprises stage. I also investigated how the self-identification can influence politics of production during uneventful periods and how the action of mass workers can drive the transition of politics of production when the self-identification is experiencing disintegration and reconstruction.Research showed that:First, self-identification is the basis of subjectivity for Production of political stability or change. When the worker's identity is defined by ideology, permanent contract, full benefit coverage and low heterogeneity within the population, the self-identification is stable. The relation between labor and capital embodies as a relatively harmonious cadres and masses relationship in factory regime. However, when the foundations of self-identification, such as contract, benefits, rights, self-esteem, significance and realization, begin to disintegrate, the workers will not approve their identity. At the same time, the harmonious cadres and masses relationship gradually transits to confrontation and hostility. When difference and conflicts between workers and management escalate, the workers will seek for new identity. Thus, the conflict and struggle between"inner group"and"outer group"provide motive force for the transition of politics of production within the state-owned enterprise.Second, In the reform process of state-owned enterprise, a new mixed factory regime formed when the labor/capital relationship gradually appeared. My research showed that the unequal relationship between labor and capital gradually appeared during the historical transition of state-owned enterprises. From the beginning of reform to fully market-oriented economy, dramatic changes have happened in the production regime of state-owned enterprises. For the working population, with benefits reduced and social status declined, they became the vulnerable group. In contrast, the management group gradually took control of the enterprises. They are being viewed as an alienated"overlord"group by the worker population. Since then, the alienation and conflicts between the workers and the managements group have escalated. Their relationship became estranged, antagonistic or even hostile. On the micro scale of enterprise culture, a new ideology is being used to reconstruct the worker's self-identification and to reduce the tension and inequality in politics of production. However, the practice of reform has already diverged from the ideology. Therefore, this is a new phenomena which cannot be defined or summarized with Burawoy's production regimes. This new production regime is a combination of ideological and control hegemony and practical autocracy. In the following private enterprise stage, this kind of production regime can also be found.Third, multiple identity and self-identification may promote or demote the possibility of class formation. I believe that the workers are the carrier of multiple identities. Within the politics of production of the state-owned enterprises, the identity of workers can dynamically change depending on the specific scenario. In other words, instead of disintegration and decay of the self-identification, the workers can seek for new self-identification through action. However, the other identities of the workers may affect the action and influence whether they can act concordantly. When one or several of the identities agree with the action, they will promote the action. On the other hand, the worker's action can be demoted if their identities are not in accordance with the actions. Therefore, the struggle and action of the workers may disintegrate because of their multiple identities. We cannot confirm the worker's action will be the foundation of class formation. This will directly influence the argument whether the working class is forming.Fourth, Double condition of self-identification and reconstruction of politics of production. In the politics of production of state-owned enterprises, the relationship between state, market, and enterprise is constantly shifting during the reform. Through the analysis of fully market-oriented economy stage, private enterprise stage, I conclude that the defense and struggle of the workers is gradually escalating. To search for a new self-identification is one of the motivations for struggle. For workers, self-identification means not only material satisfaction, but also sense of belonging, self-esteem and self-realization. When their identities disintegrated, social status declined and right infringed in the seemingly unchangeable labor/capital politics of production, the workers seek for new self-identification through actions for satisfaction of redistribution, self-esteem and their legitimate rights and interests. Therefore, I believe that the worker's self-identification has Double condition, i.e. resource as essential condition and right as sufficient condition. Both Double conditions coexist in the worker's self-identification. Resources can provide the accumulation of material resources to meet basic needs for the identity of workers, but the fundamental identity is not complete, but only essential condition for the formation of self-identification of workers. In addition to shelter, the worker's self-identification should also be our spirit. The formation of individual self-identification is required along with self-attribution, self-esteem, significance and realization, resources can not bring it. As an sufficient condition for self-identification, the rights belonging to the level of political participation and emancipation. In the relations of inequality between Labor and capital, only get this right, workers can be more frequent and stable to get the resources, but also be able to form a complete self-identification. Although the goals and strategies of the actions are mainly resource-related, we believe that actions based on the resource gain may promote the acquisition of right identity and reconstruct the worker's self-identification. The request for equal right of participation can be the motive force for politics of production. It can stimulate the transition of production regime and reconstruction of the politics of production.