As capitalism develops and state socialism disintegrates, divisions of labor are being reorganized, with major implications for the distribution of power in society. Yet the concept of division of labor has been one of the most neglected in contemporary political economy and social theory. Compared to class, gender or markets, it has typically been treated as a rather indifferent concept, part of the backdrop rather than one of the key forces of the economy and society.

Dealing with the reworking of the division of labor in both practice and theory, and transcending the narrow boundaries of academic disciplines, the authors provide a new perspective on some of the most hotly debated issues in social science.

Andrew Sayer is Lecturer in Human Geography in the School of Social Sciences, University of Sussex.
Richard Walker is Professor of Geography, University of California, Berkeley.