Economic democracy – voting rights for employees –

Climate change is linked to the economy, and decisions made within businesses have consequences for the climate. Reports indicate that the economic activities run by 100 companies are behind the most emissions.

Globalization has also led to the fact that countries’ ability to influence large corporations or owners of capital through legislation has decreased, says Sebastian Svenberg, a sociologist at the University of Örebro.

I encountered a lot of resistance

In his doctoral thesis, he examined attempts at economic democracy in Great Britain between 1826-1923. The thesis describes how the idea of ​​democratizing the economy has faced many opponents – but the same can be said of political democracy.

His research shows how early socialism, feminism, and the co-operative movement in Britain worked in different ways to create a democratic alternative in economics.

– I went back, but the question is still alive. In 2011, after the global financial crisis, there was a debate on the cooperative economy in the British Parliament. Alternatives to mainstream economic forms are often taken very seriously in the UK.

The right to decide

There were many forms of economic democracy that were not primarily about ownership, but rather about the right to participate and make decisions. It is a form of financial voting rights for employees in companies.

It gives the company’s employees decision-making rights over results. Today, employees do not have the opportunity to influence changes such as moving or closing at all. Sebastian Svenberg says they can’t make decisions about production.

It can play a role in the climate issue

Giving employees the right to vote gives them the opportunity to make decisions and influence working conditions and outcomes.

– On the issue of climate, it may mean that the employee does not have to do work that has significant consequences for the climate without being involved in making decisions about it.

So it’s not about government control of the companies – but an opportunity for employees to be part of the decision-making process – along with the owners.

There is simply reason to think about the kinds of decisions and events that led to the climate crisis – and how we should act in the future. Sebastian Svenberg says it’s a discussion I’d like to see more of.

hypothesis:

Self-rule, common determination, or despotism: organizing for economic democracy in Britain, 1826-1923

Contact:

Sebastian Svenberg, Researcher in Sociology, University of Örebro, [email protected]