The future of organised labour: global perspectives

Craig Phelan (Ed.), Peter Lang, 404 pages, paperback, £45

This is not just another book about the crisis of organised labour. It is a book about the revitalisation of the labour movement, which raises serious questions about why unions have declined but also how we can rebuild.

The authors do not simply attribute union decline to "globalisation", but choose to go back further and explore the movement's strengths and weaknesses during the post-war settlement.

More importantly, they outline the strategies through which unions can advance our interests. The authors look at organising, political representation, internal reform, coalition-building and international solidarity as ways of regenerating the labour movement.

This book attempts to consciously and critically map out the possibilities for renewal. It should be read by everyone engaged in this momentous endeavour.