Post-industrial countries: concept, role of knowledge, related terms

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Modern society is undergoing a process of deindustrialization. This means that the most developed countries of the world are reducing their production capacities. Post-industrial countries receive income from the service sector. This group includes states in which material production has given way to the production of new knowledge as a source of development. These are the post-industrial countries, the list of which includes most of the EU countries, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Israel and a number of others. This list is expanding every year.

Signs of post-industrial countries

The term was first used by the French sociologist Alain Touraine. The concept of "post-industrial countries" is closely related to the information society and the knowledge economy. All these concepts are often used not only in scientific research, but also in press articles. Their meaning seems rather vague. However, all post-industrial countries are united by the followingsigns:

• Their economies have gone through a period of transition and shifted from producing goods to providing services.
• Knowledge becomes a form of capital that has a value.
• Growth of the economy is provided mainly by the production of new ideas.
• Due to the process of globalization and automation, the value and importance of blue collar workers for the economy is decreasing, the need for professional workers (scientists, programmers, designers) is increasing.
• New branches of knowledge and technologies are being created and introduced. For example, behavioral economics, information architecture, cybernetics, game theory.

Origin of the concept

For the first time Touraine used the term "post-industrial countries" in his article. However, it was popularized by Daniel Bell. In 1974, his book "The Coming of the Post-Industrial Society" saw the light of day. The term was also widely used by the social philosopher Ivan Illich in the article "Instruments of Idleness". It occasionally appeared in "leftist" texts of the mid-1960s. The meaning of the term has expanded since its inception. Today, it is widely used not only in scientific circles, but also in the media, as well as in everyday life.

The role of knowledge

The main feature of the post-industrial societies to which Canada, America (mainly Canada and the USA) belong is the emergence of a new type of capital. Knowledge becomes the main value, it has its own value. Daniel Bell wrote about it. He believed that the newthe post-industrial type of society will lead to an increase in employment in the tertiary and quaternary sectors. They will bring the main income to the countries. Traditional industries, on the contrary, will cease to play a leading role. The basis of economic growth in post-industrial countries is new knowledge. Bell wrote that the prevalence of the tertiary and quaternary sectors would lead to a change in education. In a post-industrial society, the role of universities and research institutes is growing. The emergence of new technologies and branches of knowledge leads to the fact that learning becomes a process that lasts a lifetime. The basis of the new society are young professionals who actively participate in the political life of the country and care about the environment. Alan Banks and Jim Foster hypothesized in their study that this would lead to a reduction in poverty. Paul Romer also explored knowledge as a valuable asset. He believed that its build-up would lead to increased economic growth.

Creativity as a fundamental trait

Post-industrial countries, including Canada, America, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, are beginning to develop new industries. Therefore, there is a new impulse to creativity. Education is no longer just memorizing ready-made facts, but something more. It helps young people to express themselves. Those who can create something new become successful. In a post-industrial society, information becomes the main force, and technology is onlytool. Therefore, creativity comes to the fore, during which new knowledge is created. In order to become successful in a post-industrial society, it is necessary to be able to process large amounts of information and draw conclusions based on them. As for the primary and secondary sectors of the economy, they are also being modernized in accordance with the requirements of the time. New technologies are making agriculture and industry much more productive, allowing fewer people to work in these areas.

Criticism

Many researchers initially opposed the introduction of this term. They talked about how the new society should have a name. Previously, the basis was agriculture, then industry. This is how the terms "information society" and "knowledge economy" appeared. Ivan Illich advocated the concept of "inactivity". He believed that this term most clearly reflects the processes in post-industrial society. Also, many scientists stated that industry still remains the main industry, because knowledge only modernizes material production.

Related terms

Synonymous concepts are widely used along with the concept of post-industrial countries. Among them are post-Fordism, postmodern society, knowledge economy, information revolution, "liquid modernity". These terms are similar in many ways, and the differences lie in the nuances or scope. Therefore, each concept deserves a separatestudy.