This theme concerns the developments in European industrial relations models, including the classical topics of their convergence, continuing path-dependent divergence, or a complex trend of diverging convergence. Over 10 years after the first wave of eastward EU enlargement it seems to be clear that the hopes of the convergence of CEE and Western European industrial relations were not fulfilled. Simultaneously, the EU international policies might have an impact on the European industrial relations. The trade agreements which the EU has already adopted (e.g. with Korea) and are negotiating at this moment (TTIP) have a potential and negative influence on the future of social standards and working conditions in Europe. The influence of the EU on the non-EU countries is also important. In this sense, the issue of the role of global supply chains within the European MNE should be taken into account. What is the role of the social partnership in those processes? How can it change Industrial Relations in the EU and beyond? How are the UN, ILO, OECD and other global institutions helpful in this area?
We invite papers with theoretical and empirical relevance for: Characteristics of IRs in different countries and/or in different sectors; trends in the changes of IRs on national or sectorial/industrial and regime levels; causes, economic efficiency, and effect for employment conditions of different IR systems or regimes; the role of international EU policies for IR in Europe.