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ICTs, the Knowledge Economy, and Neo-Liberalism

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Richard Hull

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Abstract

It is a common argument that ICTs have enabled a new epoch in which information and knowledge play a central role, economically, socially and politically. This paper suggests that such arguments – despite any ‘radical’ intentions – are in danger of perpetuating neo-liberalism by promoting government intervention into the production and use of information and knowledge. It argues (1) ‘Knowledge’ as a unit of analysis was linked to the emergence of neo-liberal theories in 1930s. (2) Those theories used what were apparently ‘problems’ with knowledge to justify markets. (3) They also entailed a paradoxical coupling of ‘post-positivist’ epistemology with sovereign ethics. (4) That coupling was apparent in the social science input to ICT development from late 1950s. (5) Social science analysis of ICTs then mistakenly extrapolated from the specific to the general. (6) Current social & political theory which utilises ‘knowledge’ or ‘information’ as units of analysis must deploy the same paradoxical coupling, and hence run the risk of perpetuating neo-liberalism.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Hull R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Bridges: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Theology, Philosophy, History and Science

Year: 2001

Volume: 8

Issue: 3/4

Pages: 223-242

Print publication date: 01/10/2001

ISSN (print): 1042-2234

Publisher: Bridges

URL: http://www2.smumn.edu/bridges/

Notes: Paper publically available here: http://homepages.3-c.coop/richard/Hull_ICTs,%20Knoweldge%20Economy%20and%20Neo-Liberalism.pdf

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