THE EXTENDED CASE METHOD

Michael Burawoy

Federal University of the Urals Ekaterinburg, December 18, 2012

Introduction

• Two Traditions of Qualitative Research– Macro: Comparative history– Micro: Ethnography--Chicago School--Grounded Theory

• ECM: Micro Macro

• Two Traditions of Social Studies – Positivist – Induction (nomothetic)– Hermeneutic – Interpretation (ideographic)

• ECM: Theory Reconstruction

EXTENDED CASE METHOD

• Extending Observer to Participant• Extending Observations over Time and Space______________________________

• Extending from Micro to Macro• Extending Theory

Zambia in Africa

Zambia and its Coppper Industry

• British Colony Until 1964• Population 4 million• Two Multinational Copper Companies owning 6

mines• 50,000 Employees, 15% Whites• Copper provides 90% of foreign exchange and 50-

70% of government revenue• At Independence 1,200 Secondary School

Certificates, 100 Graduates

From African Advancement to Zambianization

COLOR BAR

Total No. of Expatriates

Zambians in Expatriate Jobs

December 1964 7,621 704

March 1966 6,592 1,138

September 1966 6,358 1,884

October 1967 5.671 2,617

June 1968 5,024 3,671

Zambianization after Independence

Total No. of Expatriates

Zambians in Expatriate Jobs

Total No.Jobs

December 1964 7,621 704 8,325

March 1966 6,592 1,138 7,730

September 1966 6,358 1,884 8,242

October 1967 5.671 2,617 8,288

June 1968 5,024 3,671 8,695

Behind the Numbers

I.EXTENDING OBSERVER TO PARTICIPANT

• How to study Zambianization?• Gaining Entry

II.EXTENDING OBSERVATIONS OVER TIME AND SPACE

a.Zambianizing the Mine Captain

• BEFORE

• Underground Manager• Mine Captain

• Shift Boss• Section Boss• Workers

• AFTER• Underground Manager• Assist. Udg Manager

• Mine Captain• Shift Boss• Section Boss• Workers

b.Zambianizing the Personnel Department

• BEFORE • AFTERStaff DevelopmentAdvisor

Personnel Manager

Officers

Clerks

Work Force

Personnel Manager

Personnel Officers

Work Force

Zambianization as Process

• Reproduction of the Color Bar• Organization Becomes to heavy• Tensions within Organization intensify

Mining Companies

Zambian State

Mine Management

African Trade UnionsZambian

SuccessorZambian Workers

III.EXTENDING OUT

Class, Race and State

• Class Interests Reproduce Racial Domination

• Post-Colonial State Relatively Autonomous from MNCs.

IV.EXTENDING THEORY

• Gouldner – Patterns of Industrial Bureaucracy

• Fanon – The Wretched of the Earth

Summary

• Extending Observer to Participant• Extending Observations over Time and Space• Extending from Micro to Macro• Extending Theory

Revisit as Auto-Critique

• STATE: Publication as Social Process • MNCs: Power and knowledge • SCALE: History and Space

Changing Price of Copper and Mine Ownership