richard sennett

In The Corrosion of Character, Richard Sennett reflects upon and discusses “flexible capitalism”. He claims that though this newer form of capitalism in theory may allow greater autonomy and livelihood (since routine and convoluted forms of bureaucracies and hierarchies are denigrated and criticized); he nonetheless believes that this system can only lead an individual to confusion, frustration and disarray. This is because he believes that despite flexible capitalism’s positive attributes such as taking innovative risks, cooperative teamwork and flexibility in the work itself and its proceedings; its overall effects and results are often minute, inadequate and unsatisfactory.
In flexible capitalism routine is viewed as negative and unproductive. However, it is not necessarily because its ideology corresponds with that of economist Adam Smith or the political theorist Karl Marx that the repetitive nature of work generally causes an individual to become passive, dull and dismal....