Manuel Castells Social Structure

Manuel Castells’ description of how social structure is created is quite interesting.  Let me try to put this in my own words and hopefully retain accuracy.  Each society is a composite of social interaction (relationships) between production, consumption, individual experiences (need and desire) and division of power (the ability to exert force either actual physical force or symbolic exhibition of force).  These interactions are continuous and exhibited through and effected by many different relationships.

 

            Relationships include class, needs and desires, control.  Running simultaneously through these continual relationships is the concept of technology or as Castells defines it “the use of scientific knowledge to specify ways of doing things in a reproducible manner” (Castells, 2000, p. 8).  Therefore, technology is directly associated as an element of mode of production.  This leads to Castells’ interesting remark about Marxism.  According to the Marxian model this definition would lead us to segregate production derived from technical relationships (innovations, I assume) of production from social relationships of production.  He notes that he has once supported the division (Castells, 2000, p. 9).  It appears this could be described as a division between production of things and production of social concepts and experience.  Since social production exists it is a segment of technology (according to the above definition) and therefore must be recognized as a force of influence upon change in society.  Social production is therefore only a dimension of technology.

 

            This social production takes form in the interactions of members of society.  This interaction is expressed and interpreted according to the total social experience.  Castells notes “What makes sense to anyone is defined by the endless reconstruction by humans of the sources and purpose of their action, always constrained but never pre-scripted” (Castells, 2000, p. 7).  This means continual and diverging symbols created by social production affect all four elements of social structure involving production/consumption, experience and power.  

 

            Question:  Does this relate to the simple example of a video game?  For instance a product developed for targeting a heat emitting target with a goal of either protection or aggression (translatable to power) shape the lives of people when that same technology is made economical for public purchase in the form of a video game (translated to either or both consumption and entertainment)?  

Ralph Nader Announces Presidential Run

Ralph Nader met with Tim Russert of NBC’s Meet th Press 24 February, 2008.  Mr. Nader made his bid for the 2008 Presidential bid formal.  As a result of his run for President 2008 what affects will we see on the political devices of the Republicans and the Democrats?  Will this create a friction in the average democratic American voter?  How about the Republican strong hold?  What will unfold as the days pass remains a debate and perhaps somewhat a mystery to the everyday American citizen. 

Perhaps the primary question is what will be the effect on the individual democrat campaigns of Obama and Clinton? 

No doubt Ralph Nader’s entry into the 2008 Presidential campaign will require strategists to revise plans.  Questions which Mr. Nader challenges all other candidates on include: single pay national health insurance coverage, the military budget, development of a solar energy plan, open presidential debates, revised Middle-East policy, and repeal of the Taft-Hartley anti-union law.  Mr. Nader has now opened his presidential campaign web site where these and other issues are discussed and his sollutions posted.   

For a review of Ralph Nader and his achievments and goals see his new website http://www.votenader.org .  If you wish to subscribe to his RSS feed the link is http://www.votenader.org/news/rss.xml .

Regionalization of Corporate Global Powers

Inter- Extra-Regionalization or Network EconomiesYou all know about “curiosity” and the cat.  I was reading a Reuters article earlier and thought about Castells’ discussion on “Globalization versus Regionalization” (Castells, 2000, Ch 2, p. 111).  I refer you also to the Reuters’ article: http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2035046520080221 .  Castells notes that extra-regional trade center hotspots are America and Asia and Europe to a lesser degree (p. 111).  As you may be keeping up with, 3Com (http://www.3com.com/ ) through its subsidiary Tipping Point makes security software.  The U.S. government is a primary customer of the security software.  Recently a Chinese company Huawei which manufactures telecom equipment has attempted to seek approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to purchase as much as 16.5 percent of 3Com stock.  Although Huawei has made several successful transactions with other telecom companies world wide and in the U.S. this transaction has been questioned.  The U.S. cited concern is that Huawei’s founder has close connections with China’s military.Could this be an example of a “homogenization of inter-network corporations within an extra-regional setting?  In other words do we see an “It’s my party and I’ll cry dance if I want to” attitude between players in the world “hierarchy”? Castells aptly notes the tension as between growth in liberal trade and simultaneous governmental trading blocs designed to maintain control (p. 110).  This does not appear inconsistent with his statement that globalization of corporations is more a phenomenon of “networked firms” rather than geographic localities (p. 115).  It appears that Castells would rather speak in terms of “economies” rather than regions primarily because an economy better translates to a “flow” of information and communication than does the concept of a “region” which is more physical and relates to geography.  More importantly though, it appears to me that he takes note of several practical aspects of social relationships.  For instance in speaking of Asia he is quick to note the social divisions between Asia mainland and Japan.  The imperialism of Japan has remained and festered in the Asian mainland for the past centuries.  This may be translated as disdain, hate or simple mistrust.  Regardless, there is a barrier to alliance between Asia (primarily China) and Japan.  Recently the leaders of each country have attempted to create a cordial relationship, but this has been met with resistance within the populous.  This said there is not the same barrier expressed in exchange of goods as there is in exchange of information.  Information is “virtual” and has no reality until applied.  Goods are seen.  When it comes to multinational sales and ownership of corporations we see a blend of product and information.  The product is the corporation and its widget.  However, the information segment is the mind and concept of the ones who make decisions within the corporation.  Hence, we see some economies willing to buy and sell products (imports and exports), but unwilling to sell or allow sales of corporations which would allow free movement of certain types of information and knowledge.  I believe this is the analysis of 3Com’s situation.

This seems to be supported by analysis that the networks of firms are not the only decision makers, but rather only one segment of the decision process to bring other firms and networked firms into their web.  Of great importance to the decision making process is government and those public institutions (perhaps quasi governmental) who may have their own schemes, reasons and goals for growth, security, GNP or prowess.

Are We More Knowledgeable?

Are we more knowledgeable?

Recently I have been reading Frank Websters book Theories of the Information Society, 3e, Routledge, London, 2006.  As I read the material in Webster, pp 25-30 I asked myself; ‘As our “society” has amassed greater information and knowledge, have we as members of smaller groups of society and as individuals equally grown in knowledge?’  I define knowledge as the use or application of information; and define information as bare data that floats about in space until called upon for use. 

Not that I am especially opposed to our president in the totality of his office, but the second paragraph of page 28 causes me to think of many of our leaders, society figures (whether B. Speers or one of the many heads of state), and frankly individuals.  Please note that I am not picking on the president, he only happens to be the one our author noted.  J 

We could speak of A. Hitler, Dan Quayle (remember him) or Osama BenLaden to name only a few of vast numbers of people who have or have had vast amounts of information at hand.  The same is with forms of bureaucracies and organizations.  For example the Sierra Club (of whom I find many of their endeavors fundamentally important to our ecological future) for years filed law suits in California and staged demonstrations to protect the natural forestation and grasslands of the state.  Their argument was that dead plant material should be left in place after a plant died.  This they logically stated allowed for small animal habitat which supports the ecosystem.  In short, that is the way nature meant it to be, so we should not change the natural role of the ecosystem.  Many scientists on both sides of the issue of the conservation issue testified for and against the use of “controlled burns” to help preserve the ecology of the state while simultaneously protecting human life from devastating uncontrolled wildfire if undergrowth (fire kindling) was allowed to increase in underdeveloped areas where suburbs were encroaching.  All of this testimony was based upon “information”, but arguably not all information was used productively in a knowledgeable fashion.  

In turn it is now argued that the devastating wildfires of California and adjoining states relates back to the huge percentage of dry fuel concentrated in the areas where the Sierra Club was successful in its mission in not disturbing nature.  Just an example. 

My point, the amount of information available need not necessarily lead to the ‘best’ use of that information.  While I agree that numerical analysis for classifications ICT’s has important use I tend to side (at this point) with the quality definitions.  That means we must establish some base line to measure accuracy.  Right?

Kranzberg

Kranzberg’s First Law: “Technology is neither good nor bad, nor is it neutral.” is quoted in our reading The Information Technology Revolution. 

The ability to digitally deliver information has brought innovative ways to generate income.  I search the internet quite often while attempting to locate new and current ways to grab the attention of students, interest them and communicate better with them.  One web site I have reviewed over the past year and a half is SecondLife.  The following URL gives a good break down of what the site offers: (http://secondlife.com/whatis/ ). 

This web site began as a virtual world for members to gather and experience a separate dimension of their life.  Basically, the member would create a new life for him/herself via the use of an “avatar”.  As time has passed the membership has quickly adapted to an “in world” experiment in which members buy, sell, rent, invest and carry on a myriad of activities that generate real income.  See the CNN coverage: http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/09/technology/fastforward_secondlife.fortune/index.htm

I believe this is only the edge of development in terms of a new economy.  It amazes me that this use of virtual/artificial intelligence has become a global market place.  As it evolves the question that comes to my mind is how far will this segment of the economy come to drive larger societal economies.

 

I am a bit unclear, but it appears that this combination of technology, group membership and culture may have great effect upon the livelihood of segments of society which have often been overlooked (although very competent), such as the physically challenged or disabled and even the aged and those under the minimum age standard.  News reports and projections tell us that a sizable amount of our population in the U.S. will be retired and drawing benefits by 2015/2025.  This will leave a smaller segment of society in the “working age” category.  Such income possibilities could be viable as alternatives for Seniors to supplement incomes and help support the retirement system.  This of course may call for some major changes in income tax calculation for those who are disabled or otherwise drawing benefits.  Other potentially needed changes would be reduction of the minimum age for workers.