The new work order: Behind the language of the new capitalism

by James Paul Gee, Glynda Hull, Colin Lankshear

Offers an analysis of what the authors describe as the new work order, theories which have swept the business world in the past few years emphasizing on-the-job learning, worker empowerment, collaboration, participatory decision making and so on. The authors argue that these enchanted workplaces are not as democratic or empowering as the rhetoric would have us believe, and that adult educators in particular need to be aware of the way in which this fast capitalism is disempowering certain groups.

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

James Gee is a researcher who has worked in psycholinguistics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, bilingual education, and literacy. Gee is currently the Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies at Arizona State University. Gee is a faculty affiliate of the Games, Learning, and Society group at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a member of the National Academy of Education.