Reflecting on ‘Knowledge Societies’ Stavros Moutsios

Knowledge is fundamental resource of post- industrial society... the post-industrial society, it is clear, is a knowledge society. Daniel Bell (1973) [Today] the source of productivity lies in the technology of knowledge generation, information processing and symbol communication. Castells (2000)

What does the transition to the mode of post-industrial development mean for production, education and culture?

PRODUCTION Knowledge is generated in contexts of application A new division of labour is emerging

Source: OECD, 2001

A new division of labour Routine production services In-person services Symbolic-analytic services (Reich, 1991)

Division of labour and adult education Source: OECD, 2003

EDUCATION Access to education becomes progressively universal The linkage between education and production is increased

Adult learning for what? Source: OECD, 2003

CULTURE ‘Expert systems’ penetrate most aspects of social life Self-identity becomes a ‘reflexive’ project The Media constitute the fabric of our societies

Main characteristics of ‘knowledge societies’ Production, reproduction, processing, and application of information and knowledge are crucial for core economic activities. There is a new division of labour favouring those possessing high educational qualifications. Education becomes progressively universal but with more vocationally oriented content. ‘Expert systems’ dominate social life and self-identity formation The Media shape contemporary culture inducing new patterns of differentiation and stratification amongst their users

Main References Bell, D. (1976) The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting, 2nd ed. New York: Basic Books. Burton-Jones, A. (1999) Knowledge Capitalism: Business, Work, and Learning in the New Economy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Castells, M. (2000). The Rise of the Network Society. 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell. Gibbons, M., Limoges, C. Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P. Trow, M. (1994) The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies. London: SAGE Publications. Giddens, A. (1991) Modernity and Self Identity: Self and Society in the late Modern Age. London: Polity Press Herman, E. & McChesney, R (2000) “The Global Media” in Held, D. & McGrew, A. The Global Transformations Reader. Cambridge: Polity. OECD (2001) The New Economy: Beyond the Hype – Final Report on the OECD Growth Project, Executive Summary. Paris: OECD. OECD (2003) Beyond Rhetoric: Adult Learning Policies and Practices. Paris: OECD. Reich, R. (1991). The Work of Nations: A Blueprint for the Future. New York: Vintage.