Kumar the Critics

As Bell puts the change in sector distribution and the pattern of occupations to the center of the changeover to a post-industrial society (I have to say, seems very persuasive to me when I read it), Kumar refutes Bell’s arguments directly and effectively. Bell, in his book, not only utilizes many numbers to analyze status and trends, but also argues again many sociologists who claim that the white collars are not an independent class, which seems very convincing. Kumar, after 20 years, also uses a lot of numbers and evidence, and more detailed analysis to argue against the whole idea of professionalization and professionals as the center of social change. He has many interesting arguments, some of which we have read about, such as information, knowledge, power, and control. The claim that IT “has a greater potential for proletarianization than for professionalization” sounds bold but powerful. His claims of the relationships between IT and political actors (military department and large corporations) are more direct and radical than what I have read so far, which, I believe, are insightful and penetrating indeed. Same with the “ideology” part.

I like this piece of work very much.