Manufacturing Consent (Burawoy book)

Manufacturing Consent: Changes in the Labor Process Under Monopoly Capitalism is a sociological study of workplace dynamics authored by Michael Burawoy. Published in 1979, the book analyzes the social processes by which industrial workers come to accept, or even actively participate in, their own exploitation within capitalist production.

Burawoy's work departs from earlier Marxist analyses that primarily viewed worker behavior as determined by external forces of coercion and economic necessity. Instead, he argues that management actively cultivates consent among workers through the creation of a "game" within the workplace. This "game" offers workers a degree of autonomy and control over their immediate tasks, providing small victories and the illusion of upward mobility, which in turn obscures the underlying power imbalances and structural constraints of the capitalist system.

The book is based on Burawoy's participant observation research on the shop floor of a Chicago manufacturing plant. He describes how piece-rate incentive systems and the organization of work create a competitive environment among workers. This environment encourages them to focus on maximizing their individual earnings rather than challenging the broader system of production. Workers become invested in "making out" – exceeding production quotas and earning bonuses – thereby participating in their own exploitation.

Furthermore, Burawoy argues that the state plays a role in legitimizing the power relations within the workplace through the legal system and other regulatory mechanisms. This creates a framework of "hegemony" where the dominant ideology of capitalism is internalized by workers, leading to the manufacturing of consent.

Manufacturing Consent is considered a significant contribution to the fields of industrial sociology, labor studies, and Marxist theory. It has influenced subsequent research on workplace culture, management practices, and the social construction of work. The book raises important questions about the nature of power, the role of ideology, and the ways in which individuals navigate and negotiate their experiences within capitalist systems.