Abstract
The main purpose of this paper is to examine what I call “horizontal counter-hegemony” based on a case study of the labor dispute at “A” publishing company. More specifically, it analyzes the process through which “horizontal counter-hegemony” was formed and considers its potential contributions to industrial democracy. The labor dispute at “A” publishing company lasted for four years and half (1993- 1998 ) .The dispute occurred as a result of clash between patriarchic managerial ideology strongly held by the company's president and workers' demands for egalitarian and democratic management ( i.e., the introduction of “industrial democracy”). However, the ideology of industrial democracy demanded by workers had its own problem. Although industrial democracy promotes an equal relationship between workers and managers in terms of personal dignity (jinkaku) , it cannot be free from the issues of “alienation” or “repression” because workers' labor power continues to be treated as commodity. Thus, this author pays attention to the idea of “horizontal counter-hegemony, ” which was arguably formed by workers in the process of the labor dispute at “A” publishing company. Based on this idea, workers may realize an equal and dignity-based relationship among workers at the workplace level and at the same time may be able to overcome the issues of alienation and repression
