Re: Native American land rights

[Thomas Kruse <tkruse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I think it is problematic to separate 'technology' from the relation under
>which that 'technology' was developed. If capitalist relation could not
>work with feudal technology, then how come socialist relation could work
>with capitalist technology? I think a critique of technology should be put
>on the agenda. Cheers, ajit sinha

YES!  Otherwise we talk of gizmos (or production/information processes)
totally disconneted from the context in which they arose, the ways in which
they are deployed and how the fruits/negative externalities of their use are
apportioned.  Also, we might add we lose sight of the ways in which
different users (or those subjected to the use of certain technologioes)
render their exposure/interaction with tech. meaningful (the culture stuff).

There is a healthy antidote to this in the literature spawned by Murra in
anthropology.  See the wonderful collectinon of essays called the
_Technologies of Power_ (despite the title, it is not a Foucauldian inspired
collection) edited, I believe, by Heather Lecthman.  Therein are some very
good studies of technology in different places and times which all look at
the gizmos/proceses AND the specific modes of production under which they
arose, were put to use, etc.  There are case studies from contemporary
Japan, ancient Greece, etc.  I especially liked the chapter on Incan
metallurgy, once you get past the chemical equations.  The Incas were really
very good, it turns out, at smelting, alloying, etc., yet they only
developed those technologies to make fancy doo-dads to adorn temples, never
to coin money or make weapons.

Tom

Tom Kruse / Casilla 5869 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
Tel/Fax: (591-42) 48242
Email: tkruse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx