Defragmenting: towards a critical understanding of the new global division of labor: Work Organisation Labour and Globalisation Volume 1 Number 2 (Work Organisation Labour and Globalisation)

New information and communications technologies can shift work seamlessly around the globe, opening up a bewildering range of new choices in who does what, where, when and how. As value chains get more elaborated, work becomes more fragmented, precarious and unstable and skills and processes are transformed. How can we make sense of these changes? And what are the implications for regions and workers around the world? What threats are posed to traditional jobs by offshore outsourcing? What are the benefits to regions that manage to attract call centre workers? What does it mean for workers to be part of a virtual global production line? This collection draws together insights from distinguished experts in political science, economics, development studies, organisational theory, economic geography, gender studies and the sociology of work to shed light on these complex questions. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how globalisation is transforming the world of work.