Andrew Sykes

Who is Andrew Sykes?

Andrew J M Sykes was Professor of Sociology at the University of Strathclyde from 1967 - 1989. According to a biographical note: 'He received his doctorate in industrial sociology from Glasgow University. He taught Management Studies at Scottish College of Commerce for three years and then joined the staff at the University of Strathclyde in 1963. Professor Sykes has conducted research into social relations and attitude changes in printing, civil engineering, clerical employment, motor car assembling, social change in Ireland, industrial training and shipping.'

In 1974 Sykes was a member of a Study Group set up by the Institute for the Study of Conflict which published a report in February of that year titled 'Sources of conflict in British Industry'. Other members of the Study Group were Ken Watkins, Brian Crozier, Prof. A. R. Hersic of Bedford College, University of London and Prof. Raymond Thomas of the University of Bath. According to Richard Cockett 'the report claimed to be a comprehensive exposure of those politically motivated Trotskist of Communist-linked trade unionists within the trade union movement, who, under cover of legitimate industrial action, sought to create a revolutionary situation. the ISC thus drew some grave conclusions about the threat to democracy in Britain: