La thèse interroge les transformations du capitalisme français à partir d’une technique d’acquisition de sociétés par endettement nommée Leveraged Buy­Out (LBO). Grâce au recueil de matériaux quantitatifs et qualitatifs, la thèse examine les conditions dans lesquelles les banquiers, les investisseurs et les dirigeants d’entreprise mobilisent cette « arme organisationnelle » et elle pénètre jusque dans l’entreprise pour en évaluer les effets. Le LBO révèle une transformation à la fois étendue et limitée du capitalisme français durant les dernières décennies. L’étendue du changement peut se mesurer à la croissance spectaculaire de ces opérations et à la diversité des acteurs qui participent au champ. Elles produisent de la valeur disponible qui permet aux investisseurs et aux dirigeants de constituer des fortunes considérables. Elles accélèrent le processus de destruction créatrice, le processus de rationalisation productive et recomposent le pouvoir dans l’entreprise. Mais l’arme organisationnelle a fait l’objet d’une traduction dans le langage du capitalisme français et a due être appropriée par les banquiers et les dirigeants. Le LBO est en quelque sorte auto­limité : sa mécanique comporte une fragilité intrinsèque qui peut déboucher sur des faillites d’entreprise et sur des bulles de crédit. Enfin, les plans de création de valeur peuvent manquer leur objectif car ils s’affrontent à la déstabilisation de l’ordre social d’entreprise due au changement de propriétaire et à l’incertitude sur son attitude future. Au final, le LBO tient son pouvoir paradoxal du fait qu’il contribue à faire bifurquer le capitalisme français loin du « compromis d’après­guerre » tout en conservant les aspects traditionnels de sa structure institutionnelle. / This dissertation deals with the transformations of contemporary French capitalism by analyzing the case of a take­over technique called the Leveraged Buy­Out (LBO). Based on both quantitative and qualitative materials, it examines the conditions under which investors, bankers and managers mobilize this “organizational weapon” and penetrates within companies to asses its effects. As an organizational weapon the LBO reveals both the extent and the limits of the transformation of French capitalism during the last decades. The extent of this transformation can be measured by the impressive growth of LBOs in France and the diversity of actors involved. They produce value to be captured to build enormous fortunes for shareholders and managers. They accelerate the process of creative destruction and the rationalization of production. By emphasizing the efficiency criterion of profitability, they reconfigure power relations within the firm. But change also contains significant limits. This organizational weapon had to be translated into the language of French capitalism and had to be appropriated by cautious bankers and suspicious managers. The LBO is somewhat self­limited: its mechanics contains an inherent fragility that can lead to company bankruptcies and credit bubbles. Finally, value creation plans have to survive the destabilization of the corporate order to be effective and create considerable uncertainty towards the future. In the end, the LBO derives its paradoxical power from it contributing to the bifurcation of French capitalism away from the « post­war compromise » while maintaining its underlying institutional structure.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis examines the growing debate around the concept of social capital. The concept has been heralded by many as a means of uniting the social sciences, particularly economics and sociology, and of overcoming ideological divisions between left and right. However, critics argue that the concept is poorly theorised and provides little insight. More radical critics have claimed the concept may be a neo-liberal ‘Trojan horse’, a mechanism by which the atomistic thinking of neoclassical economics colonises social theory. I examine these more radical claims by exploring the origins of the concept of social capital within rational choice economics. I argue that we should differentiate between two types of potential colonisation. The first is a form of methodological colonisation, whereby overly abstract, reductionist and rationalist approaches (which I term modernist) are extended into social theory. The second is a form of ideological colonisation, whereby a normative commitment to individualism and the market is extended into social theory. I argue that the concept of social capital has been the product of a trend within rational choice economics away from the extremes of modernism. In this sense the concept represents an attempt to bring economics and social theory closer together, and a willingness on the part of rational choice theorists to take more seriously the techniques and insights of the other social sciences. However, I argue that this trend away from modernism has often been associated with a reaffirmation of rational choice theorists’ normative commitment to individualism and the market. In particular, I argue the concept of social capital has been strongly influenced by elements of the Austrian economic tradition, and forms part of a spontaneous order explanation of economic and social systems. I then apply these insights to the Australian social capital debate. I argue that initially the Australian social capital debate continued an earlier debate over economic rationalism and the merits of market-orientated economic reform. I argue that participants from both sides of the economic rationalism debate used the concept of social capital to move away from modernism, but continued to disagree over the role of individualism. Finally, I argue that confusion between moving away from modernism, and moving away from market ideology, has led some Third Way theorists to misconstrue the concept as a means to overcome ideology.

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This paper discusses the changes of economic activities of ethnic Chinese in Ho Chi Minh City under different political regimes with different institutions. The thesis applied qualitative research methods with in-depth interviews, collected and analysed data from documents. The research result shows that under different social and political institutions, which are changed from French colonial period to the two different political systems during Vietnam War with the Communism in the North and the Capitalism in the South, and the socialist system carried out in the whole country after 1975, to the Doi Moi period after 1986, the Vietnamese Chinese conduct different economic activities in terms of business and trust in social relations. Before 1975, the Vietnamese Chinese traded heavily with the same ethnic group. The in-group business practices were changed after the institutional change after 1975, which pushed them to work more closely with other ethnic groups. The concept toward ¡§trust¡¨ (Xinyong) in Vietnamese Chinese community is gradually changed in accordance with the changes of social and political institutions.

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Die Arbeit verfolgt die These, dass es sich beim Markt nicht um ein wirtschaftliches Phänomen handelt. Vor dem Hintergrund des wirtschaftssoziologischen Diskurses plädiert sie entsprechend für einen trans-ökonomischen Marktbegriff, auf dessen Grundlage sich auch Märkte in Erdregionen und Erdzeitaltern beobachten lassen, in denen Gesellschaft nicht funktional primär-differenziert ist oder war.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis examines the growing debate around the concept of social capital. The concept has been heralded by many as a means of uniting the social sciences, particularly economics and sociology, and of overcoming ideological divisions between left and right. However, critics argue that the concept is poorly theorised and provides little insight. More radical critics have claimed the concept may be a neo-liberal ‘Trojan horse’, a mechanism by which the atomistic thinking of neoclassical economics colonises social theory. I examine these more radical claims by exploring the origins of the concept of social capital within rational choice economics. I argue that we should differentiate between two types of potential colonisation. The first is a form of methodological colonisation, whereby overly abstract, reductionist and rationalist approaches (which I term modernist) are extended into social theory. The second is a form of ideological colonisation, whereby a normative commitment to individualism and the market is extended into social theory. I argue that the concept of social capital has been the product of a trend within rational choice economics away from the extremes of modernism. In this sense the concept represents an attempt to bring economics and social theory closer together, and a willingness on the part of rational choice theorists to take more seriously the techniques and insights of the other social sciences. However, I argue that this trend away from modernism has often been associated with a reaffirmation of rational choice theorists’ normative commitment to individualism and the market. In particular, I argue the concept of social capital has been strongly influenced by elements of the Austrian economic tradition, and forms part of a spontaneous order explanation of economic and social systems. I then apply these insights to the Australian social capital debate. I argue that initially the Australian social capital debate continued an earlier debate over economic rationalism and the merits of market-orientated economic reform. I argue that participants from both sides of the economic rationalism debate used the concept of social capital to move away from modernism, but continued to disagree over the role of individualism. Finally, I argue that confusion between moving away from modernism, and moving away from market ideology, has led some Third Way theorists to misconstrue the concept as a means to overcome ideology.

The structure of the family unit in the United Kingdom has undergone monumental changes in recent decades. The legal definition of a family has evolved substantially to include a wider range of family forms, most recently same-sex marriage, which became legal in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) in 2014. Legal changes in the family accompany a range of social changes - among the most common of these is an expansion in the number of different-sex non-marital co-residential unions (concisely called "cohabitation") (Ermisch and Francesconi, 2000; Beaujouan and Bhrolcháin, 2011). Since the 1970s, these types of relationships have become widely accepted (Coast, 2009) and increasingly common (Office for National Statistics, 2012a). However, despite its prevalence, cohabitation in the United Kingdom is seldom studied independently of marriage. My dissertation strives to fill this gap in the literature. Specifically, my dissertation adds to the understanding of the household division of labour during cohabitation. Instead of merely examining cohabitation as one homogenous relationship type, Chapter 2 profiles three groups of cohabitants: 1) pre-marital cohabitants; 2) non-marital short-term cohabitants; 3) long-term cohabitants who reside together for five years or longer. Subsequent chapters examine how each of these groups, in turn, addresses the household division of labour - pre-marital and early couple formation cohabitation in Chapter 3, couples transitioning from cohabitation to marriage in Chapter 4, and during long-term cohabitation in Chapter 5. This dissertation is a significant contribution to the field of economic sociology because the household division of labour has not yet been explored during cohabitation in this way.

The research analyzes the construction of the fair market in Brazil and the world, their action dynamics and logic of some of its major institutions in the global and national context, triggering decisions and actions that define this new market model. The study is an exploratory and descriptive research conducted through content analysis of documents of the surveyed agents (FLO, WFTO, FACES DO BRASIL and MTE) representing the national and international model. These agents defend an alternative to the conventional market model and seek a more equitable, inclusive and fair trade. However, it has parameters and different perspectives in their application. The international model is presented as an alternative marketing model, while the Brazilian as a public policy for the projects of solidarity economy. Based on the collected data was an attempt to create a fair trade sociology addressing key concepts for the understanding of the object. Justice and market ideas were accessed to reflect how they are perceived by the surveyed agents. In addition, an analysis carried the light of economic sociology, specifically with Granovetter and Bourdieu that produced analytical tool that contribute to the perception of the various elements of the fair trade market. Thus it was realized that even under the same trade fair naming the models studied have different perspectives on its operation. Allowing states that the social construction of models directly influence how they will be achieved. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A pesquisa analisa a construção do mercado justo no Brasil e no mundo, de suas dinâmicas e da lógica de ação de alguns de suas principais instituições no contexto mundial e nacional, deflagrando decisões e ações que delimitam esse novo modelo de mercado. O estudo é uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva realizada através de analise de conteúdo de documentos dos agentes pesquisados (FLO, WFTO, FACES DO BRASIL e MTE) que representam o modelo nacional e internacional. Esses agentes defendem um modelo de mercado alternativo ao convencional e buscam um comércio mais equitativo, inclusivo e justo. Com base nos dados coletados foi realizada uma tentativa de criar uma sociologia do comércio justo abordando conceitos essenciais para a compreensão do objeto. Foram acessadas ideias de justiça e mercado para refletir como elas são percebidas pelos agentes pesquisados. Mais especificamente, foi realizada uma analise a luz da sociologia econômica, com Granovetter e Bourdieu que produziram ferramenta analíticas que contribuem para a percepção dos diversos elementos do mercado fair trade. Dessa forma foi percebido que mesmo sob a mesma nomenclatura de comércio justo os modelos estudados apresentam perspectivas diferentes sobre seu funcionamento. Permitindo afirmar que a construção social dos modelos influencia diretamente na forma como eles serão concretizados.

O tema central desta dissertação refere-se às formas organizacionais no contexto da chamada economia criativa, explorando-se mais especificamente o que ocorre em relação aos músicos de orquestra na cidade de Porto Alegre. A proposta ampara-se na abordagem da sociologia econômica, tentando-se apreender as relações entre organizações burocráticas e criatividade dos agentes, em meio às novas interações entre artes, tecnologia e mercado nos processos econômicos atuais. Trata-se, pois, de reconhecer características do ambiente organizacional que favoreçam ou obstaculizem a criatividade. A investigação acha motivação na constatação de que a valorização de bens, produtos e serviços da economia criativa, a partir dos anos 2000, configura uma importante mudança no que tange a nova orientação produtiva das economias mundiais, mediante novas interfaces entre artes – tecnologia – mercado. Para a realização da coleta dos dados empíricos, foram entrevistados músicos, maestros e gestores culturais, de duas orquestras da cidade de Porto Alegre, respectivamente uma orquestra pública e uma orquestra privada. Como principais resultados obtidos pelo estudo, destaca-se que o contexto de expansão da economia criativa tenderia estimular o surgimento de novas condições tecnológicas e de mercado da música, inclusive no segmento de orquestras, requerendo uma nova configuração organizacional e o desenvolvimento de novas habilidades pelos agentes. O estudo aponta também para a possibilidade de choque entre as crenças e valores institucionais, não constituindo necessariamente em uma limitação a manifestação da criatividade nas organizações pesquisadas. Por fim, o processo de gestão da música erudita evidencia traços de uma nova etapa de racionalização em suas dinâmicas, tendo em vista a complexidade de fatores de ordem social e institucional que constituem os processos de criação dos agentes. / The central theme of this dissertation refers to the organizational forms in the context of creative economy, more specifically what happens in relation to orchestral musicians in Porto Alegre city. The proposal sustains itself in the economic sociology approach, trying to grasp the relationship between bureaucratic organizations and agents’ creativity inside the new interactions among art, technology and market in the current economic processes. That is, to recognize characteristics of the organizational environment favoring or hindering creativity. The research has motivation in noting that the valuation of goods, products and services of the creative economy from the 2000s, an important change regarding the new production guidance of world economies through new interfaces among arts - technology - market. In order to achieve the empirical data collection, musicians, maestros and cultural managers from two orchestras of Porto Alegre city were interviewed, respectively, public and private ones. The main results obtained by the study are emphasized that the context of expanding creative economy would tend to stimulate the arising of new technological conditions and musical market, including orchestral segment, requiring a new organizational configuration and new skills development by agents. The study also points to the possibility of an impact between institutional values and beliefs; it does not necessarily constitute a restriction to the expression of creativity in the surveyed organizations. Finally, the process of erudite music management shows features of a new step rationalization in its dynamics, in view of the factors complexity from social and institutional orders which constitute the processes of agents’ creation.