openmute press

The Class of the New

By Richard Barbrook, 31 January 2007

Netizens, elancers, cognitarians, swarm-capitalists, hackers, produsumers, knowledge workers, proams... these are just a few of the monikers that have been applied to the new social class emerging from the networked workplace. In this short book, Richard Barbrook presents a collection of quotations from authors who, in different ways, attempt to identify an innovative element within society - 'the class of the new'. Announcing a new economic and social paradigm, this class constitutes a 'social prophecy' of the shape of work to come. From Adam Smith's 'Philosophers' of the late 18th century, down to the 'Creative Class' celebrated by sociologist Richard Florida today, the class of the new represents the future of production within and beyond capitalism.

 

ISBN 9780955066474

Date of Publication: 31/1/2007

116 pages

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