Krugman

["Charles Brown" <CharlesB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Krugman
by bantam
30 March 2002 11:33 UTC

Rob:
G'day Ian,

No doubt there's more than a smidgeon of truth in that.  I still think
sentiments like that of the deceased gentleman betray a rather innocent
integrationist functionalism (if I may introduce an ugly coinage).
Globalisation ain't homogenisation, indeed it ain't meant to be
(variance over space is precisely where our betters distribute costs and
divide labour to their advantage).  To the degree that it is (convenient
universalised definitions and regulations that allow such utilisation of
difference), it must necessarily create different differences.  A single
imposition affects a heterogeneous object in heterogeneous ways,
producing a variety of resistances, axiomatically redistributing costs
and benefits, and, at the very least, a variety of readings of a
seemingly singular text (information theorists are merely communications
theorists who get to bracket out the problem of meaning and the context
wthin which it is generated - which makes their calling easier, but less
useful in all ways but that of short-term propaganda points for the
suits and technocrats).

Cheers,
Rob.


^^^^^^^^^^

Rob,
Is that something like superstate-monopoly  territorial distribution of the points of production so as to maintain combined and uneven development ?

^^^^^^^



> BTW I should mention that a few years ago at lunch with a now deceased
> UW economics prof., when the
> homogenization issue came up his stance was 'what's so great about
> diversity, it's led to too much
> violence.'