The fourth and final part of this book (Industrial Relations: a Comparative
and International Perspective) looks at the collective aspects of the employ-
ment relationship. First, Chapter 15 links back to Chapters 2 and 3 by
discussing the transfer of HR practices – or more generally employment prac-
tices as they are called in this chapter – within MNCs. It provides explanations
for variations between MNCs in terms of the extent of transfer and a discussion
of the likely nature of the relations between different groups within MNCs in
the transfer process. Chapter 16 then draws on the recent literature on ‘varie-
ties of capitalism’ to show that national economies can be structured in many
different ways, and that these differences are associated with different indus-
trial relations systems. It also disentangles the challenges inherent in globali-
zation, and considers whether they imply convergence towards a more
market-driven model, or whether distinctive forms of social regulation are
likely to persist. In Chapter 17, we take this analysis of convergence and diver-
gence one step further by moving to the regional level of analysis and reflecting
about the prospects for the ‘Europeanization’ of industrial relations. In the
final chapter of this book – Chapter 18 – we take our analysis back to the
company level by examining the relevance of the concept of the Eurocompany
and the role of European Works Councils within European industrial relations.Introduction 5Introduction.qxd 10/29/03 2:33 PM Page 5