Death and Rebirth of the American Mill Town

Abstract

THE PROBLEM OF POWER in nineteenth century mill towns rests on a conflict between employer absolutism and the democratic rights of the employees. The treatment of power in recent community studies has been inadequate. This is particularly true in works influenced by symbolic anthropology, where the problem is seen to have been resolved in a consensual value system. However, the persistence of conflict in strikes and disorder compels an examination of the mechanisms of domination, as well as legitimacy. To this end, the ideas of Marx and Weber offer more valuable guidance than those of Durkheim. AU XIXe siecle, le pouvoir dans les villes industrielles demeure le lieu de conflits entre l'absolutisme des employeurs et le droit democratique des employes. L'auteur note l'insuffisance de l'analyse de ce pouvoir dans les etudes recentes. Cela est particulierement vrai dans les travaux influences par l'anthropologie symbolique ou on resout le probleme en faisant appel a des valeurs bon-ententistes. Cependant, la persistance de conflits et de desordres force a examiner les mecanismes de domination aussi bien que ceux qui legitiment le systeme. A cette fin, la pensee de Marx et Weber offre plus d'interet que celle de Durkheim.