Abstract
The journal editor and the guest editors would like to dedicate this special issue to the memory of Lorenzo Bordogna. His unexpected departure last Spring, at the time when this issue was being designed, has left a painful void in the tapestry of European industrial relations studies.
Lorenzo, who was a professor of sociology of work at the Universities of Brescia and Milan and a very active member of the Executive Committee of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (formerly IIRA), was a pioneer in the study of comparative public employment relations. He was one of the first to detect, in the 1980s, the shift of industrial strife and unionization towards the public sector and to understand that it had specific dynamics. His insightful analyses and contributions have defined the way we understand the sector’s intricate processes, the roles of public administration institutions, and the national legal frameworks of civil and public services.
Beyond his intellectual prowess, Lorenzo was a person of extraordinary character. Known for his kind demeanour, he approached every interaction with grace and respect. His generosity with everybody was at its highest when mentoring students and supervisees and advising young scholars. As a rigorous and passionate teacher, he inspired and influenced many experts of industrial relations and shaped the scientific careers of many.
His research in comparative public employment relations was not only academically robust but also practically significant. He had a rare talent for bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that his work resonated beyond the academic sphere and into the realms of policy and organizational change.
Lorenzo was also a long-standing friend of the European Journal of Industrial Relations, both as a diligent reviewer and as an author. Just over ten years ago, he guest-edited, with Stephen Bach, a Special Issue (nr4/2013) that addressed, in a timely and rigorous way, the disruptive impact of the economic crisis on public sector industrial relations.
This new special issue on the public sector is a tribute to his extraordinary life and career. The articles presented here reflect the themes he held dear and are written by colleagues and admirers who were touched by his work and his personality. Each contribution echoes his commitment to understanding and improving public sector industrial relations.
In 2019, Lorenzo started the intellectual journey of this special issue together with us at a conference held at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne. Sadly, he will not be able to read the results of those reflections. However, his teachings have influenced and continue to influence our work and the work of many students of industrial relations across Europe and beyond.