Võrgustikud ja sotsiaalne kapital Eesti sotsiaaldialoogis
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
Description
The master thesis is titled “Networks and social capital in Estonian social dialogue”.
The thesis is based on the conceptions of different theorists of social capital and it’s
components of, to explain the Estonian social reality and social dialogue in different
branches of business. Also I was interested in the level of dialogic interactions
between the relations of employers’ and employees’ representatives. Since multitude
of different type of social connections and particularly multitude of bridging social
capital helps to create participatory civil society, the thesis focuses on the relations
between trade unions and employers unions and their ability to participate in the
decision making processes and social dialogue. An important research question was
also about trade unions and employers evaluation of social dialogue in Estonia and
their understanding of this dialogue, first of all on the branch level.
The research results were collected using qualitative methods, sample included five
representatives of employers and five representatives of employees from different
branches. The collected study material was very informative and expressive, the
experience and opinions in the interviews of social partners presented a thorough
notion about present situation and possibilities how the networks of social partners
could function.
Analyzing the functioning of the network relations employers and employees found
that the need to improve the relations with the public sector is crucial. Trade unions
considered the improvement of the connections between employers’ and employees’
organizations primary to find more common interest and reduce conflict. The
employers did not bring out special need to tighten the relations with trade unions,
exception being healthcare sector, where both social partners have relatively strong
organizations and long negotiation experience. The employers considered the
connections with governmental organizations to be the most important concerning
their development. Trade unions evaluated the contact with other trade unions and
trade unions’ central organization to be crucial. Social Ministry was mentioned as the
most important public sector organization to promote social dialogue in the future.
There are mentioned a number of possible topics and joint-activities in the end of the
thesis, which could help to build social dialogue from both sides and to give up public
opposition.
I consider the results of the research to be important for all the participants of the
social dialogue, since the developing of the social dialogue is the main activity
besides the developing the organization, rising the number of members and creating
imago. Through participating in social dialogue it is possible to create imago and
reliability but also open channels of participatory democracy for the members.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General)