Berkeley Sociology mourns the loss of Michael Burawoy, a world-renowned sociologist and professor emeritus who died February 3. Professor Burawoy is famous for his contributions to theory, methods, analyses of labor processes in industrial worksites, and analyses of the university as a workplace..
As ASA President, Burawoy developed and advanced his call for “public sociology” a call that energized more diverse and younger generations of sociologists to practice sociology through proactive engagement with concerns and questions that emanate from communities beyond academia. As ISA President, Burawoy built infrastructure for sustained scholarly exchange between scholars of the “global south” and the “global north.”
Burawoy’s teaching and mentoring were legendary, as were his commitments to the improvement of pedagogy and sustaining accessible, high-quality public education. Read more about Professor Burawoy’s life and legacy as well as the memories and tributes from his students and colleagues..
Prof. Einstein served graduate students as a model of prudence in remaining unfashionably true to the grand…
Laid-Off Workers in a Workers' State
Unemployment with Chinese Characteristics Edited by Thomas B. Gold, William J. Hurst, Jaeyoun Won and Qiang Li
Departmental Colloquium Series
Michelle Jackson, "The Division of Rationalized Labor"
Monday September 15th, 2025 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Blumer Room - 402 Social Sciences Building and via zoom
Abstract:
A key prediction of classical theories of the division of labor is that, over time, specialized occupations are responsible for an ever-narrower range of tasks. In contrast to the predictions of classical theories, I show that the macro-level forces of scientific development and rationalization in fact work to complicate tasks and responsibilities. I use historical, archival, and statistical data to cast light on this general pattern, and consider some of the possible consequences for workers, firms, and societies.