«The golden age» of industrial relations: elements for a theoretical interpretation

Abstract

In the middle of the twentieth century lots of researches devoted to systematize the field of study of «industrial relations». In this article some of the approaches —from the functionalistic outloock to the theory of action and also considering the marxist view— are examined. The final aim underlyng this revision is to show how labour relations are shaped as an autonomous domain on a certain geographical space —the anglo-saxon world— and for a certain period of time —from the end of Second World War to the crisis of the seventies—. We have underlined the concepts under which its is set up or the methodological aspects which turn out to be more meaningful for the study of the procedures of institutional mediation.