What is Braverman's central theory on work?
My central argument concerns the degradation of work under monopoly capitalism. I detailed how the historical development of management techniques, such as scientific management and the division of labor, has been geared towards divorcing the conceptual from the manual aspects of work. This allows capital to gain greater control over the labor process, extract surplus value more efficiently, and reduce the power of skilled workers. The result is work that is increasingly simplified, monotonous, and alienating.
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