Difference between revisions of "Technocracy"
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The origins of ''Technocracy'' have been the subject of some debate, but William Henry Smyth has been generally recognized as having invented the word "technocracy" in 1919 to describe as he put it: "''the rule of the people made effective through the agency of their servants, the scientists and engineers''"<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Barry|title=Sleepers, Wake! Technology and the Future of Work|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=214}}</ref>. Smyth had [[Industrial Democracy]] in mind when he coined the term<ref>{{cite book|last=Smyth|first=William H.|title=Technocracy Parts I-IV., Working Explosively, A Protest Against Mechanistic Efficiency. Working Explosively Versus Working Efficiently|publisher=Berkeley Gazette|quote=Technocracy Part III., "Technocracy" - Ways and Means To Gain Industrial Democracy}}</ref>. | The origins of ''Technocracy'' have been the subject of some debate, but William Henry Smyth has been generally recognized as having invented the word "technocracy" in 1919 to describe as he put it: "''the rule of the people made effective through the agency of their servants, the scientists and engineers''"<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Barry|title=Sleepers, Wake! Technology and the Future of Work|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=214}}</ref>. Smyth had [[Industrial Democracy]] in mind when he coined the term<ref>{{cite book|last=Smyth|first=William H.|title=Technocracy Parts I-IV., Working Explosively, A Protest Against Mechanistic Efficiency. Working Explosively Versus Working Efficiently|publisher=Berkeley Gazette|quote=Technocracy Part III., "Technocracy" - Ways and Means To Gain Industrial Democracy}}</ref>. | ||
| − | [[Thorstein Veblen]] is also regarded to be an early father of technocracy<ref name=utopianism>[https://books.google.com/books?id=n6RabZ8t48gC&pg=PA259 Technological Utopianism in American Culture]</ref>, when he called for a ''Soviet of Technicians'' in 1921.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/engineersandpri01veblgoog ''The engineers and the price system ''], by [[Thorstein Veblen | + | [[Thorstein Veblen]] is also regarded to be an early father of technocracy<ref name=utopianism>[https://books.google.com/books?id=n6RabZ8t48gC&pg=PA259 Technological Utopianism in American Culture]</ref>, when he called for a ''Soviet of Technicians'' in 1921.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/engineersandpri01veblgoog ''The engineers and the price system ''], by [[Thorstein Veblen]], p. 138</ref> |
A second group of technocrats in the 1930's, led by Howard Scott, built what was at the time known as the Technocracy Movement.<ref name=utopianism /> | A second group of technocrats in the 1930's, led by Howard Scott, built what was at the time known as the Technocracy Movement.<ref name=utopianism /> | ||
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| + | ==Forerunners== | ||
| + | Technocracy has drawn comparison with early socialist theorists such as [[Henri de Saint-Simon]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=S8-eBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA128 Concepts of Technocracy]</ref> | ||
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| + | Similarly, the book [[Philip Dru: Administrator]] written by President [[Woodrow Wilson]]'s advisor [[Colonel House]], has a very strong technocratic construct<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PSy_AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA192&lpg=PA192 Pathology of the Elites: How the Arrogant Classes Plan to Run Your Life]</ref> with its propensity to describe the important role of expertise, bureaucracies, and quick decision. | ||
==Critiques== | ==Critiques== | ||
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===Technocracy and Socialism=== | ===Technocracy and Socialism=== | ||
| − | + | Daniel Bell, an influential sociologist<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/biography/Daniel-Bell Daniel Bell]</ref>, made a direct comparison between technocracy and early socialist theorists, particularly that of [[Henri de Saint-Simon]]. He wrote that "St. Simon's vision of industrial society, a vision of pure technocracy, was a system of planning and rational order in which society would specify its needs and organize the factors of production to achieve them."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6_56x5tB7gC&pg=PA76|last1=Bell|first1=Daniel|year=2008|title=The Coming Of Post-industrial Society|isbn=978-0465097135}}</ref> Bell concluded that the "administration of things" is the "hallmark of technocracy". | |
In addition, [[Upton Sinclair]] was very excited<ref>Arthur M. Schlesinger (2003). [http://books.google.com/books?id=UAjls3YykzgC&pg=PA463 The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919-1933] Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 463.</ref> about the coming Technocracy movement and lauded its arrival. He wrote: | In addition, [[Upton Sinclair]] was very excited<ref>Arthur M. Schlesinger (2003). [http://books.google.com/books?id=UAjls3YykzgC&pg=PA463 The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919-1933] Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 463.</ref> about the coming Technocracy movement and lauded its arrival. He wrote: | ||
Revision as of 18:48, October 20, 2015
A Technocracy is defined as a system in which people with a lot of knowledge about science or technology control a society.[1] A technocratic state, or a state controlled by engineers and expertise[2], generally has experts secluded into unelected bureaucracies.[3]
History
The origins of Technocracy have been the subject of some debate, but William Henry Smyth has been generally recognized as having invented the word "technocracy" in 1919 to describe as he put it: "the rule of the people made effective through the agency of their servants, the scientists and engineers"[4]. Smyth had Industrial Democracy in mind when he coined the term[5].
Thorstein Veblen is also regarded to be an early father of technocracy[6], when he called for a Soviet of Technicians in 1921.[7]
A second group of technocrats in the 1930's, led by Howard Scott, built what was at the time known as the Technocracy Movement.[6]
Forerunners
Technocracy has drawn comparison with early socialist theorists such as Henri de Saint-Simon.[8]
Similarly, the book Philip Dru: Administrator written by President Woodrow Wilson's advisor Colonel House, has a very strong technocratic construct[9] with its propensity to describe the important role of expertise, bureaucracies, and quick decision.
Critiques
James Burnham
In his seminal work The Managerial Revolution, Burnham lists Technocracy as one of four managerial ideologies alongside Communism, Nazism, and New Dealism.
Elected and Unelected
As a political term, Technocracy tends to be a bit elastic[10], meaning that the definition of both the word and the application(s) have shifted over time.
Elected
Prime Ministers Mario Monti and Lucas Papademos have both been considered technocrats.[11]
Unelected
More often than not, technocrats exercise influence from unelected boards and bureaus, as is often seen both in the European Union[12][13] and in the United States from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.[14]
Technocracy and Socialism
Daniel Bell, an influential sociologist[15], made a direct comparison between technocracy and early socialist theorists, particularly that of Henri de Saint-Simon. He wrote that "St. Simon's vision of industrial society, a vision of pure technocracy, was a system of planning and rational order in which society would specify its needs and organize the factors of production to achieve them."[16] Bell concluded that the "administration of things" is the "hallmark of technocracy".
In addition, Upton Sinclair was very excited[17] about the coming Technocracy movement and lauded its arrival. He wrote:
| “ | Socialists have been saying pretty much the same thing for the past two generations. But then, nobody pays much attention to us Socialists. This time, however, it is the leading experts of the engineering profession who are speaking - the sort of people the American public looks up to.[18] | ” |
Stuart Chase, an early member of the Technical Alliance, was also an ardent socialist.
See Also
References
- ↑ technocracy: definition. Merriam-Webster.
- ↑ Technocracy and the Politics of Expertise
- ↑ The Rise of the Unelected: Democracy and the New Separation of Powers
- ↑ Jones, Barry. Sleepers, Wake! Technology and the Future of Work. Oxford University Press, 214.
- ↑ Smyth, William H.. Technocracy Parts I-IV., Working Explosively, A Protest Against Mechanistic Efficiency. Working Explosively Versus Working Efficiently. Berkeley Gazette. “Technocracy Part III., "Technocracy" - Ways and Means To Gain Industrial Democracy”
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Technological Utopianism in American Culture
- ↑ The engineers and the price system , by Thorstein Veblen, p. 138
- ↑ Concepts of Technocracy
- ↑ Pathology of the Elites: How the Arrogant Classes Plan to Run Your Life
- ↑ Minds like machines -Government by experts sounds tempting, especially in a crisis. It can work. But brief stints have the best chances, The Economist
- ↑ Who, What, Why: What can technocrats achieve that politicians can't?, BBC
- ↑ EU Chief: Our Work Should Not be Transparent, Breitbart.com
- ↑ The rise of governments led by technocrats in Europe illustrates the failure of mainstream political parties., London School of Economics
- ↑ Take Control, Congress, National Review
- ↑ Daniel Bell
- ↑ (2008) The Coming Of Post-industrial Society. ISBN 978-0465097135.
- ↑ Arthur M. Schlesinger (2003). The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919-1933 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 463.
- ↑ "Technocracy's Theory Lauded by Socialists", 23 December 1932.