The working sovereign: A normative theory of labor

What role does the organization of working conditions play in securing the existence of a democratic community? This is the question that Axel Honneth explores in his new major monograph, the key concepts of which are “social work” and “social division of labor”. His central thesis is that participation in democratic decision-making is tied to the prerequisite of a transparent and fairly regulated division of labor.

Honneth begins by explaining why it is justified to examine working conditions in terms of their compatibility with democracy. He then traces the development of working conditions since the beginning of capitalism in the 19th century. The starting point of this historical journey, which is illustrated with impressive literary testimonies and takes us into the world of agricultural workers, the – mostly female – servants and the first industrial workers, is the assumption that today’s working conditions increasingly undermine the opportunities for active participation in the democratic formation of opinion and will. The last part of the book therefore outlines the hinge points at which a politics of work should be applied today in order to counteract the emerging grievances and contribute to an urgently needed revival of democratic participation.