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

Modern society is going through the process of de-industrialization. This means that the most developed countries in the world are reducing their production capacity. Post-industrial countries receive income from the services sector. This group includes states in which material production gave way to the production of new knowledge as a source of development. Such 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 Turen. The concept of "post-industrial countries" is closely connected with the information society and the knowledge economy. All these concepts are often used not only in scientific research, but also in articles in the press. Their meaning looks rather blurry. However, all post-industrial countries unite the following features:

• Their economy overcame the transition period and was reoriented from the production of goods for the provision of services.
• Knowledge becomes a form of capital that has its value.
• The growth of the economy is mainly due to the production of new ideas.
• Due to the process of globalization and automation, the value and importance of "blue collar" for the economy is decreasing, the need for professional workers (scientists, programmers, designers) is increasing.
• New fields of knowledge and technology are being created and being introduced. For example, behavioral economics, information architecture, cybernetics, game theory.

Origin of the concept

For the first time, the term "post-industrial countries" was used by Turen in his article. However, he was popularized by Daniel Bell. In 1974, his book "The Coming of a Post-Industrial Society" saw the light. The term was also widely used by the social philosopher Ivan Illich in the article "Tools of Idleness". Sometimes he met in the "left" 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 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. This was written by Daniel Bell. He believed that a new post-industrial type of society would 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 other hand, 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 will lead to a change in education. In the postindustrial society, the role of universities and research institutions 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. Alain Banks and Jim Foster in their study hypothesized that this will lead to poverty reduction. Paul Romer also studied knowledge as a valuable asset. He believed that its growth would lead to an increase in economic growth.

Creativity as a fundamental feature

Post-industrial countries, including Canada, America, most of the EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, are beginning to develop new industries. Therefore, a new impulse to creativity. Education is no longer a simple memorization of ready-made facts, but something more. It helps young people in self-expression. Successful are those who can create something new. In a postindustrial society, information becomes the main force, and technology - only an instrument. Therefore, creativity comes to the fore, during which new knowledge is created. In order to become successful in a postindustrial 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 times. New technologies make agriculture and industry much more productive, which makes it possible to involve fewer people in these spheres.

Criticism

Many researchers initially opposed the introduction of this term. They said that a new society should have a name. Earlier, the basis was agriculture, then - industry. Thus, the terms "information society" and "knowledge economy" emerged. Ivan Illich advocated the notion of "inactivity". He believed that this term most clearly reflects the processes in the post-industrial society. Also, many scientists said that industry is still the main industry, because knowledge only modernizes material production.

Related terms

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