Reflecting on ‘Knowledge Societies’
Stavros Moutsios
Knowledge is fundamental resource of postindustrial 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
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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.