A solidaristic knowledge policy for sustainable human development

Abstract

In this paper, the solidaristic knowledge policy is defined and presented as a core element of sustainable human development in the twenty-first century due to the central role of knowledge in our era. In this respect, concepts of sustainable human development are revisited. Specifically, Marx's materialist vision of and Amartya Sen's capability approach to sustainable human development are reviewed from the perspective of a solidaristic knowledge policy and the fundamental principles for the design of such policy are proposed.

Keywords:

• capability
• sustainable human development
• asset-based egalitarianism
• solidaristic knowledge policy
• knowledge bargaining

Notes

¹ To reduce the knowledge gap between firms and between regions should also be a target of the solidaristic knowledge policy. However, the scope of discussion here is confined to individuals.

² It goes without saying that environmental sustainability cannot be neglected when sustainable human development is considered. However, since we focus on the relation between knowledge and sustainable human development here, the aspect of environmental sustainability is excluded for analytical convenience.

³ Here functions are indicated as attainments of different attributes and capability as the ability to attain (Sen 1985).

⁴ The human capital theory sees human beings as ‘human capital’. The concept of capital that the theory adopts is that any asset that yields a flow of returns in the future is capital. This concept of capital is quite different from the concept of capital Marx defined. Marx defined capital as a value that creates surplus value. Surplus value comes from surplus labor, which capital exploits. Marx defined capital in terms of a relational concept, that is, relations of production. In contrast, the human capital theory defines capital in terms of productive forces.

⁵ The Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) proposed the Human Development Index (HDI) that includes a composite index of three dimensions of human development: access to resources, knowledge and longevity. The HDI index is derived from the human capabilities proposed by Sen.

⁶ In order for knowledge to be a dominant factor of competitive advantages of a firm, it should be combined with creativity. Creativity is the most important element of human development in the twenty-first century.

⁷ Without knowledge, workers cannot perform conception function or complex labor, nor can they expect skill upgrading. Therefore, knowledge of workers enables a counter-tendency of the capitalist labor process.

⁸ Social skills are also called interpersonal skills, intermediate skills and citizenship skills.

⁹ From the beginning of capitalism, capitalists have monopolized knowledge. The working class was deprived of knowledge, as Marx argued in Capital. Thus, for the solidaristic knowledge policy, the first step should be to correct the basic unequal distribution of knowledge between the capitalist and working class.

¹⁰ In the knowledge firm, the capital–labor relation takes a form of knowledge capital–knowledge labor relation. Unlike Peter Drucker's argument that as knowledge becomes the prime factor, the distinction between capital and labor disappears in a knowledge society, capital–labor relations still have meaning.

¹¹ A quality circle is actually a small knowledge community in the workplace. Knowledge that engineers and operatives have about production is shared by the members of the quality circle.

¹² Time bargaining should be performed at the industry or national level in order to prevent polarization of free time between firms.

¹³ Reduction in working time without a wage cut can be a bargaining strategy for a solidaristic knowledge policy.