Foundations of Critical Theory

Abstract

The Problem

Despite the late 20th century explosion of interest in quality circles, the learning organization, and the habits of effective organizational members, dissatisfaction with organizational life under capitalism and globalization seems to rise exponentially. The financial crisis of 2008, the export of manufacturing jobs, and the rise of the information economy all contribute to worker restlessness and alienation. What theoretical frameworks are most useful to help us understand the way work is experienced as fluctuating and deskilled by many inservice industries and part-time employment?

The Solution

Critical theory is proposed as one theoretical solution to disentangling this problem. Although crafted in the first half of the 20th century, this attempt to modernize and adapt Marxism has enduring relevance for the 21st century. Its analysis of worker alienation, the fetishization of consumer goods, the commodification of labor, and the way organizations co-opt efforts at structural change are all helpful to Human Resource Development (HRD) practitioners who seek a different perspective on understanding workplace issues.

The Stakeholders

The article provides examples of how concepts drawn from critical theory can inform scholars’ and practitioners’ understanding of the practice of HRD. Critical theory is proposed as providing a more informed understanding of organizational power dynamics, of the enactment of microaggressions, of the way that labor is commodified, of the production of a social character of capitalism, and of the practice of repressive tolerance.