The book presents the main features of the development of French sociological thought from the mid-20th century to the present
In this context, it traces the transition from industrial to post-industrial society, from national to global society, and from modernity to postmodernity. He traces these changes not only on the theoretical level, but also in individual areas of social events and in everyday life. In doing so, it traces not only how social reality itself is changing, but also presents the fundamental disputes and debates that have taken place and are taking place in French sociology in this context.
French sociology has the most suitable parameters for such an analysis. It is the only national sociology that has had a tool for capturing changes in social structure since the mid-20th century. It takes the form of "socio-occupational categories" and allows to follow trends in the development of occupational structure and, in relation to this, social mobility trajectories. The changes in the world of work and employment are set out in this framework, with France transformed from a country of small entrepreneurs and tradesmen into a typical employment society. This analysis includes the consequences of the mass entry of women into the labour market, the introduction of new types of labour contracts, fundamental changes in the educational and qualification level of the population, but also new forms of labour conflicts and the return of mass unemployment. In this section, a discussion on the prospects of the employment society is presented.
This is followed by an analysis of the changes in the functioning of formal organisations, both in the private and public spheres. The development of the sociology of the organization and the problems of management are discussed. In this context, the main points of the discussions on innovations in the management of private firms and public institutions are presented, as well as the controversies concerning the impact of these new forms of management on employees and the results of efforts to apply them in the management of public institutions.
