The Handbook of the International Political Economy of Production, edited by Kees van der Pijl, offers a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of the evolving global production landscape. Spanning 736 pages, this volume explores various dimensions of production in an interconnected world, from the human and material elements involved to alternative proposals and theoretical frameworks.

The book delves into the geography of job movements across both manufacturing and service sectors, examining why and where jobs are relocating globally. It highlights how the integration of Eastern European and Asian economies doubled the available labor supply, significantly altering the dynamics between workers and corporations. Labor and work-related politics are analyzed in detail through case studies from key countries, while separate chapters discuss potential recoveries in organized labor’s bargaining power on this expanded global stage.

A full overview is provided of current labor research networks active worldwide, addressing topics that range from the exploitation of bodies and minds to sex work and biotechnology. The volume also explores prospects for ecological re-balancing within production processes. With contributions from fourteen countries and featuring some of the leading names in contemporary social science alongside topical specialists, this handbook serves as a critical resource for political economists, trade unionists, NGO activists, politicians, and journalists engaged in labor and human rights issues.