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This article explores paths for the renewal of the study of industrial relations and labour law. Through a comparative historical review of these two fields of study, it examines their common roots and legacies and a range of renewal initiatives. It is argued that both fields need to reappropriate core values: recognition of the fundamental inequality of the parties to the employment relationship; and recognition of the need to compensate for this inequality through collective processes. The seeds of this renewal are identified in both labour law and industrial relations. Their future lies in the emergence of an integrated field of study of work and employment and in the role and future of work as a vector of democracy. Industrial relations and labour law both suffered a relative decline during the latter decades of the 20th and the early 21st centuries. Through a comparative historical review of the field of study, this article explores current and past efforts by scholars in industrial relations and labour law to examine their common legacies in order to transcend the overly narrow confines of their fields and identify avenues for renewal. Both industrial relations and labour law have long shared a common object of study--work and employment--and would benefit from more systematic integration of their findings. Such an integration will be explored by broadening both analytical perspectives. Neither jurists nor industrial relations specialists should confine their understanding of law to the formal rules within state law. They should instead turn to analysis of the 'living law' through empirical studies of its nature and effectiveness. Industrial relations, whose focus is on the future of work and society, requires a more substantive engagement with the social sciences, while both fields need a normative project to advance citizenship at work and democracy. In line with Arthurs' observations on labour law (2011), such renewal also requires an understanding of how both can be used to challenge hegemonic institutions and initiate alternative approaches. Keywords: industrial relations; sociology of labour law; renewal of field of study; future of work; citizenship at work; regulation of work; democracy at work Cet article explore les voies du renouvellement de l'etude des relations industrielles et du droit du travail. A travers un examen historique comparatif de ces deux domaines d'etudes, il examine leurs racines et heritages communs ainsi qu'une serie d'initiatives de renouvellement. Il est soutenu que les deux domaines doivent se reapproprier des valeurs fondamentales: la reconnaissance de l'inegalite fondamentale des parties a la relation de travail et la reconnaissance de la necessite de compenser cette inegalite par des processus collectifs. Les germes de ce renouveau sont identifies a la fois dans le droit du travail et dans les relations industrielles. Leur avenir reside dans l'emergence d'un champ d'etudes integre du travail et de l'emploi et dans le role et l'avenir du travail en tant que vecteur de democratie. Les relations industrielles et le droit du travail ont tous deux connu un declin relatif au cours des dernieres decennies du 20e siecle et du debut du 21e siecle. A travers un examen historique comparatif de ces deux domaines d'etudes, cet essai explore les efforts passes et actuels des chercheurs en relations industrielles et en droit du travail pour interroger leurs heritages communs afin de transcender les limites de leurs domaines d'etudes et d'identifier des voies eventuelles de renouveau. Les relations industrielles et le droit du travail partagent depuis longtemps un objet commun, le travail et l'emploi, qu'ils ont abordes souvent, toutefois, dans un superbe isolement. Or, les deux champs d'etudes beneficieraient sans nul doute d'une integration systematique de leurs demarches et resultats. Cette integration ne peut reussir sans un elargissement reciproque de leurs perspectives analytiques. Ni le juriste travailliste, ni le specialiste des relations industrielles ne devraient limiter leur comprehension du droit aux regles formelles de la sphere etatique, mais plutot se tourner vers l'analyse du 'droit vivant', ce qui necessite des etudes empiriques de sa nature et de son efficacite. L'etude des relations industrielles, qui se concentre sur l'avenir du travail et de la societe, necessite un engagement plus substantiel avec les sciences sociales et, comme pour le droit du travail, un projet normatif visant a promouvoir la citoyennete au travail et la democratie. En s'appuyant sur les observations d'Harry Arthurs (2011) concernant le droit du travail, un tel renouveau necessite egalement de comprendre comment ces domaines d'etudes peuvent etre utuises pour remettre en question les paradigmes hegemoniques et initier des approches alternatives. Mots-cles: relations industrielles; sociologie du droit du travail; renouveau du champ d'etudes; l'avenir du travail; regulation du travail; democratie au travail, 1. Introduction As fields of study, industrial relations and labour law share a common history and similar existential challenges. In their efforts to address what was labelled the labour problem [...]

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2338.2010.00571.x Byline: Christian Levesque (1), Gregor Murray (2) Abstract: ABSTRACT This study identifies three types of workplace union strategy in the development of cross-border relations within North American and European multinational companies: defensive isolation, risk reduction and proactive solidarity. Qualitative case studies of MNCs with operations in Canada and Mexico indicate that the nature and intensity of participation in cross-border trade union alliances are shaped by the union dynamic at the local, national and international levels. A combination of greater workplace union power resources, notably discursive capacity, and of strong supportive approach of the national union, notably dedicated resources and space for bottom-up initiatives, contributes to proactive solidarity strategies towards international union networks. The absence of these factors is associated with risk reduction and defensive isolation strategies. Author Affiliation: (1)HEC Montreal, Montreal, Canada (2)Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada Article note: Christian Levesque, Centre interuniversitaire sur la mondialisation et le travail (CRIMT), HEC Montreal, 3000 chemin de la Cote Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Canada, H3T 2A7. Email: christian.levesque@hec.ca