Fragmenting Societies: A Comparative Analysis of Regional and Urban Development (International Library of Sociology)

David Thorns questions whether or not the current changes in capitalist societies are forces of fragmentation. Through a comparative historical analysis of Australia, New Zealand and Britain, he examines the restructuring of the workforce, the shift towards more flexible work practices, the rise in unemployment, the growth of individualism, the diversification of regions and localities, and the creation of new versions of the New International Division of Labor thesis.Thorns argues for an analytical approach based on the distinct experiences of localities, regions and nation states. He provides detailed empirical data covering such topics as economic trends, employment patterns, regional diversity, state sector restructuring, consumption, home ownership, as well as local resistance to change.