The Formation of a Modern Labor Force

The Formation of a Modern Labor Force: Upper Silesia, 1865-1914 explores the transformation of the labor market in Upper Silesia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This period, often overshadowed by national conflicts, saw the shift from an agrarian society to an industrial one, marked by the development of labor forces in mines and mills. The study critiques traditional historical narratives that focus solely on the working conditions, trade unions, and class struggles, instead offering a broader view of the dynamic interaction between labor and management. It addresses how workers, influenced by older agricultural traditions, navigated industrial settings and how their actions, such as high turnover and absenteeism, played an essential role in shaping labor-management relations. The analysis challenges conventional economic and sociological perspectives, emphasizing how both workers and employers adapted to the new industrial realities, with management often unintentionally impeding the formation of a modern labor force.

This work offers a fresh perspective on the labor history of Central Europe, particularly in the context of Upper Silesia, which has received less attention in mainstream labor studies. By examining the workplace as a site of ongoing conflict and negotiation, the book highlights the complex sociological and economic factors at play in the development of a modern labor force. It critiques the typical focus on economic man in labor history, arguing that the transition to industrial society in Upper Silesia was not solely driven by market forces but was deeply influenced by the socio-cultural legacies of agriculture. The study also pushes beyond the boundaries of national histories, urging labor historians and sociologists to reconsider the broader forces at work in areas undergoing rapid industrialization. By providing new insights into the worker-management dynamics of Upper Silesia, this book opens up avenues for further research into the social and economic transformations of industrial Europe.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1975.