Professionalism and Social Change (eBook)

This book guides the reader in discovering contemporary professions and the critical changes they have lived through after the post-industrial transformation of advanced capitalist societies. Two interrelated concepts are used to interpret what is happening in professional work: differentiation, namely the set of processes by which professions and professionalism have become more diverse, and heterogeneity, the outcomes of such processes.

A novel analytical framework  delves into differentiation and understands heterogeneity based on three dimensions: within (how professions are structured internally), between (how professions distinguish themselves from other occupations and from each other), and beyond (how professions govern societal changes and influence differentiation processes). The book presents a collection of studies covering different countries and professions to demonstrate the analytical potential of the within-between-beyond model. The conclusions show how 'neo-liberal' professionalism is putting the very idea of collegiate professions at stake while exposing emerging professions to market risks.

Lara Maestripieri holds a PhD in Sociology and Social Research, granted by the University of Trento (2011). She is a 'Ramon y Cajal' distinguished researcher at the Department of Political Science at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the IGOP (Institute of Government and Public Policy). She is the current Secretary/Treasurer of the ISA RC52 'Sociology of Professional Groups' board. Previous publications on emerging professions appeared in the Journal of Professions & Organization, Canadian Review of Sociology, Professions & Professionalism.

Andrea Bellini received a PhD in Sociology from the University of Florence. He currently holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the Sapienza University of Rome. His research interests are at the crossroads of the sociology of professions and industrial relations. Within this broad area, his work has focused on the study of labour regulation and interest representation. His publications include contributions on the legal, healthcare, and creative professions. He is a member of the editorial board of CAMBIO.