Worthwhile post. Sounds like a useful contribution to the task of identifying structural changes associated with the information age. Tom Walker wrote: > PERELMAN, MICHAEL. Class warfare in the information age. New York: St. > Martin's Press, 1998, Pp. 154. $35.00. ISBN 0-312-17758-5. > > Examines the reciprocal relationship between class structure and > information technology. Considers the extravagant claims about the > revolutionary nature of the coming information age. Contends that, for > the most part, the information technologies are not being applied to > improve the quality of life; rather, they are being used to perfect > command and control processes, often at the expense of the wellbeing of > workers. Examines information and the control of the labor process, > arguing that information processes should be used to develop and engage > the technological potential of all employees. Describes the > contradiction of exploited informational labor: that command and control > management is self-defeating under conditions where a single error in a > massive computer program can cause a disaster. Explains why the use of > information as a commodity necessitates a more intrusive government to > protect intellectual property rights. Indicates how the new information > technologies are also used to exert control of the general population > outside of the workplace. Analyzes how the growth of intellectual > property rights undermines the growth of science and technology, thereby > restricting the potential of the information economy. Demonstrates that > markets are poorly equipped to manage the production and exchange of > information. Suggests ways that the technologies of the supposed > information revolution could be turned to good purpose. Perelman is > Professor of Economics at California State University, Chico. > > regards, > > Tom Walker > www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/worksite.htm -- ___________________________________________________________________ http://publish.uwo.ca/~mcdaniel/
