New knowledge in the study of the Russian precariat (review of the book: The lifeworld of workers: sustainability versus precarity / ed. by Zh. T. Toshchenko. M.: Ves’ mir Publ., 2024. 462 p.)

The review highlights the key ideas and provisions of the collective monograph “The life world of workers: sustainability versus precarity” published in 2024 and edited by corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences J.T.Toshchenko (Moscow: Ves’ Mir Publ., 2024. 462 p.). The monograph completes the series of publications devoted to precarisation, a special aspect of labour in modern society, characterised by instability of professional employment of large groups of the population. In today's society, where the boundaries between work and private life are increasingly “blurred”, the concepts of “sustainability” and “precarity” are becoming central to understanding the life world of employees. Sustainability implies stable employment, clear career prospects and social protection; it creates confidence and promotes the development of talents, professional skills and personal identity. Precarity, on the other hand, reflects uncertainty and instability. Workers trapped in temporary contracts, freelance projects and/or underemployment are exposed to stress, which has a negative impact on their mental and physical health, which creates not only economic vulnerability, but also social isolation, significantly reducing the quality of life. In this monograph, the team of authors attempts to provide a comprehensive coverage of this phenomenon. The reviewers highlight the structure of the monograph, consider its basic concept of “lifeworld” and its evolutionary development in the depths of historical sociological and philosophical thought. In addition, a brief analysis of transformational changes in employment in Russia and abroad, as well as in the education system is given. The reviewers believe that this collective monograph will be of interest not only to representatives of teaching and research staff, but will also be of interest to doctoral students, postgraduates, specialists and students, managers who study social problems of employment.

precarization of labor, precariat, life world, vocational education, employment transformation