Etica

CIES e-WORKING PAPER N° 15/2006

Quadros e trabalhadores no capitalismo flexível: uma abordagem cultural e sócio-cognitiva

TIAGO LAPA

CIES e-Working Papers (ISSN 1647-0893)
Av. das Forças Armadas, Edifício ISCTE, 1649-026 LISBOA, PORTUGAL, [e-mail]

Tiago Lapa holds a B.A. in Sociology from the Instituto Superior de Ciências do
Trabalho e da Empresa (ISCTE), Lisbon. He is currently a research assistant at the Center for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-ISCTE). His research interests concern family change in Europe; time use over the lifecourse; media and youth; and cross-national analysis of quantitative data.
Email: [e-mail]

Abstract
Several authors (Harvey, 1990; Boyer et al., 1995; Beck, 2000; Santos,
2001) have pointed out that capitalism is undergoing a transition towards the institutionalization of a flexible regime of accumulation and its correspondent mode of regulation. This paper focuses on the symbolic and socio-cognitive dimensions of the social construction of contemporary capitalism. Firstly, it discusses the relevance of updating the work of Weber about the spirit of capitalism under the current transformations of capitalism.
Next, the paper deals with the cultural patterns of a flexible regime of accumulation, drawing on excerpts of the management literature as examples. Finally, the argument centres on the impact of the economic and cultural order of flexible capitalism upon the socio-cognitive structures of managers and workers. It argues that a socio-cognitive regime might be in formation, supporting the institutionalization of a flexible regime of accumulation. Keywords: spirit of capitalism, regime of accumulation, labour market, flexibility, workers

Resumo
Tem sido apontada uma transição do regime de acumulação que caminha para a institucionalização do regime de acumulação flexível e do seu modo de ‘regulação’ social correspondente (Harvey, 1990, Boyer et al., 1995,
Beck, 2000, Santos, 2001). Este texto foca-se nas