Suchergebnisse

Marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Club of Rome as a formal organization by reviewing its contributions to solving the global problems of population growth, resource depletion, & pollution. The role of Italian industrial manager Aurelio Peccei, together with former British chief science advisor, Alexander King, & Eduard Pestel, Minister of Science of Lower Saxony, in creating the club is discussed, documenting how they assembled 30 experts in sociology, economics, science, industry, & government planning, drawn from different countries with different political ideologies & economic systems, to address common problems. Their classic 1972 report "The Limits of Growth" is reviewed, along with subsequent publications, & the club's development of a computer model of world problems is described. K. Hyatt Stewart

Examines historical critiques of capitalism, & the role of computer modeling in the analysis of the world market. It is suggested that history infiltrated the scientific realm through the fields of thermodynamics & Darwinism, which incorporated historical considerations. However, modern researchers have rejected the linear conceptions of history employed by scientists, & the historical influence on both science & economy is now regarded in more dynamic terms. Computers have contributed to these dynamics by facilitating bottom-up approaches to analysis that emphasize the diverse multitude of possibilities that can arise from a single factor. It is argued that capitalism can no longer be regarded as the linear process described by Karl Marx, & that computer modeling offers a more realistic approach to analysis of the capitalist economic system. Computer programs offer support for the productivity of the meshwork system through which large corporations are replaced by smaller, interconnected industries. Under these circumstances, a large & skilled labor force is created that can react quickly to market demands & avoid massive unemployment brought on by the collapse or relocation of a single business. 19 References. T. Sevier

Demonstrates the value of mathematical modeling in social movement research, particularly for investigating collective action. Eight fundamental principles in generating & analyzing formal mathematical models are outlined & some strengths & weaknesses of mathematical modeling & simulation approaches are identified. Some specialized computer programs ideally suited to working with these models & simulations are reviewed. For the nonmathematically inclined, some principles are offered to guide the evaluation of formal models used in others' research. 1 Figure, 1 Appendix, 51 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

Discusses the nature & impact of the heavenly perspective offered by weather satellites. Whereas our ancestors looked up to the skies & stars to divine the weather & other knowledge, modern technology allows us to look down on the globe from an "objective" viewpoint. It is argued that the occasional failure of technology to accurately forecast the weather suggests a degree of subjectivity, & that the maps used to represent the globe evidence the influences of politics, economics, & mythology. It is suggested that the popularity of satellite weather forecasting has legitimated massive expenditures on space & computer technologies that are fundamentally military by design. Despite the practical benefits of such forecasts, it is concluded that the true appeal of satellite imagery rests in the symbolic representation of a partnership between science & art, & the ambiguity between the sublime beauty of the heavenly perspective & the underlying natural & sociopolitical powers. T. Sevier

Documents the adoption & diffusion of information & communications technologies (ICTs) by large firms in the global information society, describing the evolution of digital corporate networks in various countries since the late 1960s. Factors contributing to different rates of adoption across industrial sectors are identified, & patterns of computer networking in different corporations are examined, highlighting how the creation of a global information infrastructure (via the Internet & Intranet) allows companies to increase their market share & expand geographically. Effects of ICTs on productivity & jobs are explored, citing international statistics. Interview data from senior managers of seven large multinational corporations reveal additional impacts on employment, the work environment, & human capital. New educational & training demands for workers are identified, & policy implications discussed. 3 Tables. K. Hyatt Stewart