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Castells contends that the ascendancy of informationalism is closely entwined with the escalating
global disparities in wealth and the emergence of social exclusion as a prominent phenomenon.
Central to this thesis is the role of capitalist restructuring, driven by imperatives of economic
competitiveness, as a significant catalyst shaping the contours of contemporary societies. While the
text acknowledges instances of economic development and industrialization benefiting millions, it
underscores the complexity of the overall impact on inequality and social conditions.
Differential experiences across regions accentuate the uneven distribution of prosperity, with
Western Europe and the United States generally enjoying elevated living standards, while the former
Soviet Union and Sub-Saharan Africa grapple with declines in well-being. The need to differentiate
between various processes of social differentiation, including inequality, polarization, poverty, and
misery, becomes apparent in Castells's analysis. These processes, intricately linked to both
distribution/consumption patterns and relations of production, contribute to the evolving dynamics
of social stratification. On the other hand, individualization of work, over-exploitation of workers,
social exclusion and perverse integration are characteristic of four specific processes vis-a-vis
relations of production.
Inequality is described as the disparate distribution of wealth among individuals and social groups,
while polarization signifies a specific form of inequality where both the top and bottom segments of
the wealth distribution outpace the middle, intensifying social differences. Poverty is institutionally
defined as falling below a prescribed level of resources, determined by societal norms, while the
term "misery" is proposed to denote extreme poverty or deprivation, encompassing a broader array
of social and economic disadvantages. The definitions, though statistically relative and culturally
influenced, serve as tools for precise description and analysis of social differentiation within the
context of informational capitalism.
The passage explores the second set of processes related to the analysis of relations of production in
the network society. It discusses the criticism of "precarious" labor relations, emphasizing the impact
of the individualization of work on employment stability. The concept of social exclusion is
introduced as the permanent exclusion of certain population segments from formal labor markets.
The author stresses the need for analytical differentiation to understand the causal relationships
between these processes and their consequences for societal phenomena like inequality,
polarization, poverty, and misery.
The term "individualization of labor" is introduced to describe how labor contributions are
specifically defined for each worker, either through self-employment or individually contracted,
largely unregulated, salaried labor. "Over-exploitation" is discussed as working arrangements that
systematically withhold payment or resource allocation, imposing harsh conditions on specific
categories of workers, including discrimination against immigrants, minorities, women, young
people, and children. The resurgence of extreme child labor globally is highlighted as a concerning
trend.
The concept of social exclusion, proposed by the European Union's Commission and adopted by the
United Nations' International Labour Office, is explored. It refers to the permanent exclusion of
specific population categories from formal labor markets. The passage underscores the importance
of understanding the dynamic interplay between these processes to comprehend their
consequences on societal structures within the network society.
In the realm of social exclusion, Castells introduces a dynamic perspective, emphasizing its status as a
fluid process rather than a static condition. Boundaries of social exclusion shift over time, influenced
by a myriad of factors such as education, demographics, social prejudices, business practices, and
public policies. The lack of consistent employment emerges as a pivotal mechanism in social
exclusion, yet the text acknowledges that various pathways to destitution can contribute to this
phenomenon.
The geographical dimension of social/territorial exclusion comes to the fore in the context of
informational capitalism's dominant spatial logic—the space of flows. Regions deemed less valuable
in this calculus may find themselves bypassed by capital and information flows, resulting in a lack of
essential technological infrastructure and exclusion from the benefits of the network society.
Beyond the socio-economic landscape, Castells delves into the realm of criminal economies and their
symbiotic relationship with social exclusion. Criminal economies, defined as normatively declared
illegal income-generating activities, become an integral part of the global capitalist framework.
Castells contends that informational capitalism is characterized by the formation of a global criminal
economy, intricately interwoven with the formal economy and political institutions. Socially excluded
populations and individuals seeking alternative, albeit risky, avenues for livelihood contribute to the
emergence of an expanding underworld, a significant aspect of contemporary social dynamics.
The text extends its analysis to offer a comprehensive global overview of inequality and poverty,
drawing on historical economic statistics. Divergence in output per person across countries emerges
as a dominant feature of modern economic history. Castells illustrates this divergence through graphs
depicting GDP per capita indices for various countries over time, underscoring the widening gaps in
wealth creation.
The examination of income inequality reveals a troubling trend over the past three decades, with the
poorest 20 percent of the world's population experiencing a decline in their share of global income.
The concentration of wealth at the top is starkly highlighted, with the assets of billionaires surpassing
the combined GNP of the least developed countries. Even traditionally egalitarian societies, like
Sweden and Denmark, experience rapidly increasing inequality, revealing the global pervasiveness of
this phenomenon.
Furthermore, trends in income inequality within OECD countries underscore the systemic nature of
the issue. Even societies with a history of egalitarianism, such as Sweden and Denmark, witness a
rapid surge in inequality. The overall global trend points towards increasing inequality, creating a
polarized world marked by differential evolution of intra-country income distribution.
The text extends its gaze to the human development domain, noting improvements in life expectancy
in developing countries. However, the persistence of disparities contributes to a polarized world,
highlighting the uneven impact of globalization on the well-being of populations.
Beyond economic indicators, Castells analyzes the rise in poverty and misery globally. In 70 countries,
average incomes are lower than in 1980, and in 43 countries, they are lower than in 1970. The mid-
1990s witness 1.3 billion people living in misery, defined by a consumption equivalent to one US
dollar a day. The dimensions of poverty extend beyond income, encompassing illiteracy, lack of
access to safe water, hunger, and a multitude of challenges that plague large segments of the global
population.
Public policies play a pivotal role in shaping poverty trends. The text highlights deliberate policies by
certain administrations, such as in China and Chile, influencing poverty reduction. However, it also
notes a global trend during the 1980s and early 1990s, where governments prioritized techno-
economic restructuring over social welfare, contributing to the increase in poverty in most
developed countries.
Economic crises, particularly the Asian crisis of 1997-98, emerge as critical contributors to poverty
induction. The lasting effects of these crises on employment, income, and social benefits underscore
the fragility of recovery, which takes a much longer period than the restoration of markets and
exports.
In summary, Castells's analysis paints a comprehensive picture of the complex interplay between
informationalism, capitalism, and global social dynamics. The text traverses economic, social, and
political dimensions, offering profound insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by
the Information Age. Through historical and contemporary data, Castells unfolds the evolving global
landscape, emphasizing the interconnectedness of economic development, public policies, and social
outcomes in the context of informational global capitalism.
ESPAÑOL:
"El ascenso del cuarto mundo" de Manuel Castells se embarca en una exploración matizada de las
relaciones entre el informacionalismo, el capitalismo y la dinámica social global, proporcionando una
comprensión integral de la naturaleza multifacética de la desigualdad y la exclusión social en la era
de la información.
Castells sostiene que el ascenso del informacionalismo está relacionado con las crecientes
disparidades globales en riqueza y el surgimiento de la exclusión social como un fenómeno
prominente. Lo central para esta tesis es el papel de la reestructuración capitalista, impulsada por
imperativos de competitividad económica, como un importante catalizador que moldea los
contornos de las sociedades contemporáneas. Si bien el texto reconoce casos de desarrollo
económico e industrialización que benefician a millones de personas, subraya la complejidad del
impacto general sobre la desigualdad y las condiciones sociales.
El pasaje explora el segundo conjunto de procesos relacionados con el análisis de las relaciones de
producción en la sociedad red. Se analiza la crítica de las relaciones laborales "precarias", destacando
el impacto de la individualización del trabajo en la estabilidad del empleo. Se introduce el concepto
de exclusión social como la exclusión permanente de ciertos segmentos de la población de los
mercados laborales formales. El autor enfatiza la necesidad de una diferenciación analítica para
comprender las relaciones causales entre estos procesos y sus consecuencias para fenómenos
sociales como la desigualdad, la polarización, la pobreza y la miseria.
El texto amplía su análisis para ofrecer una visión global integral de la desigualdad y la pobreza,
basándose en estadísticas económicas históricas. La divergencia en la producción por persona entre
países emerge como una característica dominante de la historia económica moderna. Castells ilustra
esta divergencia a través de gráficos que representan los índices del PIB per cápita de varios países a
lo largo del tiempo, subrayando las brechas cada vez mayores en la creación de riqueza.
El examen de la desigualdad de ingresos revela una tendencia preocupante en las últimas tres
décadas, en la que el 20 por ciento más pobre de la población mundial experimenta una disminución
en su participación en el ingreso global. La concentración de la riqueza en la cima se pone
claramente de relieve: los activos de los multimillonarios superan el PNB combinado de los países
menos desarrollados. Incluso sociedades tradicionalmente igualitarias, como Suecia y Dinamarca,
experimentan un rápido aumento de la desigualdad, lo que revela la omnipresencia global de este
fenómeno.
Además, las tendencias en la desigualdad de ingresos dentro de los países de la OCDE subrayan la
naturaleza sistémica del problema. Incluso sociedades con una historia de igualitarismo, como Suecia
y Dinamarca, son testigos de un rápido aumento de la desigualdad. La tendencia global general
apunta hacia una creciente desigualdad, creando un mundo polarizado marcado por una evolución
diferencial de la distribución del ingreso dentro de los países.
El texto extiende su mirada al ámbito del desarrollo humano, señalando mejoras en la esperanza de
vida en los países en desarrollo. Sin embargo, la persistencia de las disparidades contribuye a un
mundo polarizado, lo que pone de relieve el impacto desigual de la globalización en el bienestar de
las poblaciones.
Más allá de los indicadores económicos, Castells analiza el aumento de la pobreza y la miseria a nivel
global. En 70 países, los ingresos promedio son más bajos que en 1980, y en 43 países, son más bajos
que en 1970. A mediados de la década de 1990, 1.300 millones de personas vivían en la miseria,
definida por un consumo equivalente a un dólar estadounidense por día. Las dimensiones de la
pobreza se extienden más allá de los ingresos y abarcan el analfabetismo, la falta de acceso al agua
potable, el hambre y una multitud de desafíos que afectan a grandes segmentos de la población
mundial.
Las crisis económicas, en particular la crisis asiática de 1997-98, emergen como contribuyentes
críticos a la inducción de la pobreza. Los efectos duraderos de estas crisis en el empleo, los ingresos y
los beneficios sociales subrayan la fragilidad de la recuperación, que requiere un período mucho más
largo que la restauración de los mercados y las exportaciones.