1.Introduction 2. The Pursuit of Wages 3. The Zones of Disturbance 4. Management’s and Workers’ Images of the Strike 5. The Causes of the Strike 6. Why Was the Strike a ‘Wildcat’ 7. Management – Willing But Unable 8. The Reduction of Tension in the Plant 9. Rudiments of a General Theory of Group Tensions 10. Threats, Defenses and Organizational Character.
Biography
Alvin W. Gouldner (1920–1980) was a prominent American sociologist renowned for his contributions to the study of social theory and organizational sociology. Best known for his critical perspectives on the relationship between social structure and individual agency, Gouldner’s work challenged conventional views of bureaucracy, power, and authority. His influential texts, such as The Coming Crisis of Western Sociology (1970) and Patterns of Industrial Bureaucracy (1954), critiqued the dominant paradigms of sociology, advocating for a more reflexive and critical approach to understanding social institutions.
Gouldner’s interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on the dynamic interplay between theory and practice left a lasting legacy in the field.
Original Review of Wildcat Strike:
‘The book offers careful analysis of the strike…’ Harold L. Wilensky, American Journal of Sociology Volume 61, No. 1
