Title: Societal transformations, globalisation and the knowledge society

Authors: Nico Stehr

Addresses: Karl Mannheim Professor for Cultural Studies, Zeppelin University, Am Seemooser Horn 20, Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance D-88045, Germany

Abstract: In what sense, then, can it be said that contemporary societies are becoming more and more dependent on the production, dissemination and use of knowledge? Are we witnessing a change from a social world in which |things| simply |happened| to a world in which things are more and more |made| to happen? Finally, what is the nature of the linkage between social transformations, the globalisation process and knowledge in the modern world? (1) I will discuss the place of knowledge in prominent social theories of modern society as well as the place of knowledge in major policy efforts that proceed from the assumption that knowledge plays a key role for large scale social transformations; (2) I will advance a sociological conception of knowledge and (3) I will apply it to the social analysis of change in modern society.

Keywords: modern societies; knowledge societies; globalisation; capacity for action; social change; information society; post-industrial society; network society; human capital; education; knowledgeability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2007.015548

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2007 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.139 - 153

Published online: 29 Oct 2007 *

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