E-SPEAIT T4

 

The 2004 Information Society Report to the Parliament of Finland by Pekka Himanen, was definitely an interesting read. It brought up a variety of interesting observations which I believe were very accurate and lined up very well with what happened, and is is currently happening in modern times. 

His review touches on topics relating to the global trends they predicted and delves deeper into the way information and work societies functioned and the differences between them in their respective countries. Touching on the papers discussion of global trends, it is very evident that his focus on how the population continues to age and more workers move onto a pension state, the problem of being able to maintain the welfare ratio in a sustainable manner arises, and was a concern that is still evidently present today. The problem of keeping employees working to an older age becomes unrealistic with the majority not willing to work longer and going into early pension. Another global trend that was touched in depth was the issue with cultural industries, or more specifically the manner of work that countries could reliably provide and expect work from. In the way that employment currently expects an individual to be able to provide a variety of skills with experience as well a creative mindset capable of producing productivity, the older form of work with strict, monotonous, and rigid requirements that while not necessarily low wage labor, could be compared to as such, are becoming scarce and less viable. One more global trend which took of horribly in a sense was the deepening global divide of income gab between the poorest and richest in the world, which took of in the favor of the rich, hit the middle class with a decline and kept the poor as they were. 

The paper then touched on the development scenarios they saw in existence, and I believe there wasn't much change. The Silicon Valley model which depicted the idea of "leaving the weak behind" still exists with the rich continuing their cycle of growth within their enclosed bubble, The Singapore model with "a race to the bottom" which showed the idea of companies doing their best to profit with lesser developed countries where work and labor is cheaper, and the European "dead hand of passivity" with the people attempting to keep the status quo similar to the past as much possible. Of all three only the European model seems to have diminished and countries have incorporated other manners of  development. The paper then goes onto to propose ways to address the issues present in a manner of ways. By implementing a creative economy that would push forward innovations and the ability of individuals to work in a confident and assured manner to the benefit of all, a creative welfare society that would attempt to provide equal opportunities and allow each individual the chance to release their potential, attempting to address peoples meaningful development in society as individuals and persons, and realizing a global culture in order to address all other issues mentioned the power of a global worldwide network of people and capabilities. 

To end this summary, everything in the paper were truthful interpretations of society was moving forward throughout the years of the papers release and now, both the issues addressed as well as the methods proposed to alleviate and fix the concerns. Moving forward I believe that we will still face the issues mentioned as we are now, and the goals to fix them and craft a society that is able to function without causing each individual unnecessary duress and suffering will still be an ongoing trial. 

Source:

Parkkinen, Pekka (2004). Challenges Of The Global Information Society.

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