Contenu du sommaire : Les comparaisons internationales. Théories et méthodes.

This introduction surveys the major approaches used in French comparative studies during the past two decades. The system approach emphasizes the specificity of interrelations between spheres of social life. The cultural approach, which borrows from historical analysis, inquires into the main rules that govern life in society. The political approach, so often neglected in the analysis of labor, studies how national political actors (government, unions, political parties) are involved in regulating collective life in the world of work and management within firms. As for the strategic approach, it starts from firms' strategies in order to stake out the pertinent spatial divisions for the comparative analysis of countries.

The methodological and theoretical pitfalls of comparative research between developed and developing lands (notedly Brazil) are pointed out. Some studies are presented of the obstacles that multinational firms have encountered when transferring technology or practices having to do with the organization of work. As he examines technological determinism, the author rejects the determinism inherent in certain theories of development and dependence. Although there is no universal path towards industrialization, the number of possibilities is not infinite.

In order to shed light on the advantages and disadvantages of three comparative approaches (functionalist, culturalist and societal), a typology is established on the basis of two questions : a) to what extent does each approach examine the linkage between the micro and macrolevels ? and b) is a hypothesis formulated about the continuity, or discontinuity, of the phenomena between various lands ? The characteristics and prospects of societal analysis are indicated. By using a vast range of examples of "national coherence", the ambition of this type of analysis is to stake out the way toward a more general theory.

Studies of the French police are used to point out the advantages of a comparative approach, which provides a useful way to advance into unexplored domains in one's own country when there already exists a relevant body of knowledge about other lands. Thanks to comparisons, the study of institutions (such as the police), which is too often concentrated on the profession's interests or on social demand, can be decompartmentalized. It is also necessary to examine the social function of the police institution in a given society : the notion of "social order"is used to contrast the way this institution functions in France and in English-speaking lands.

Three types of comparative research about the relations between technological decisions, the nature of human labor and the volume of employment are pointed out : studies that look for universal laws ; those that seek for laws and coherence specific to the national level ; and those that hypothesize a limited number of productive configurations. Having used the last type in comparative research on France, Hungary and Bulgaria, the author shows that the combination (which characterizes the Eastern European lands) of technological lags, low productivity and lack of manpower results from a social compromise between workers and the Communist Party. Comparative research would progress if such compromises were brought to light and their implications discussed.

For her research on French and British regulations of the male and female labor markets, the author has adopted the societal approach developed by LEST. However she seeks to reflect critically upon it in order to verify and generalize results. The differences thus observed between France and Great Britain come from differences between behaviors towards women, women's work, the family and education.

This analysis of the complexity and dynamics of the links between discourses about the Japanese management model and actual practices points out the stages in the "trip" from the American human relations theory to Japan. This theory has permeated the mental representations of actors in Japanese firms. The social and cultural reasons for the favorable reception given to it are examined. A critical view is taken of "Japanization" : the principal studies, whether by Japanese or Western scholars, of the Japanese model are examined in detail in order to reveal ideological prejudices and presumptions. stages in the "trip" from the American human relations theory to Japan. This theory has permeated the mental representations of actors in Japanese firms. The social and cultural reasons for the favorable reception given to it are examined. A critical view is taken of "Japanization" : the principal studies, whether by Japanese or Western scholars, of the Japanese model are examined in detail in order to reveal ideological prejudices and presumptions.

In support of the sociology of action and in line with K. Popper, the author argues for a research strategy with the objective of verifying traditional explanations of social phenomena. The method of "action-research" is thus suggested for international comparisons. It provides the possibility of testing the pertinence of interpretations by presenting them to the groups under study. Furthermore, it enables these groups to formulate more easily alternative proposals for managing change. However, adopting a research-action approach implies that the international research team change its way of working together.