Chapter 22. Uneven and combined development and decent work

If you bring two distinct problematics together, you need to bear in mind that they have been articulated for specific purposes and audiences. Nevertheless, we are asking, if the Decent Work agenda can, in some way, help us act upon the impact of uneven and combined development on the world of work. The issue of agency comes to the fore from my perspective and helps us create forward momentum. The first section takes a broad-brush approach to how capitalism was created, shaped, and struggled with labour, in the context of uneven and combined development. I turn next to situate labour within a contemporary development context. Finally, we shift beyond a linear relationship between UCD and DW to introduce a multi-scalar approach that is cognisant of complexity and driven by a concern for strategy.