Baudrillard and the Bauhaus: The Political Economy of Design

Design Issues ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Holt
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Political Economy ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
The Political ◽  
Significant Development ◽  
Art And Technology ◽  
Artificial Environment ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Anglophone World

Though better known in the Anglophone world as the guru of postmodern “hyperreality”, the French philosopher and radical sociologist Jean Baudrillard devoted a great deal of attention to theorizing design. This paper singles out the moment—inspired by a conference he attended in 1972 in New York at MoMA—where he advances the argument that contemporary design, understood as articulating and incorporating the entirety of the artificial environment, is a direct manifestation of the most significant development in political economy since the industrial revolution—what Baudrillard calls the “political economy of the sign.” According to Baudrillard the origin of this expanded sense of design is the Bauhaus. That school sought to extend the role and mission of design to all fabricated phenomena, in the process collapsing any distinction between objects (and environments), turning them all into a fusion of art and technology, aesthetics and functionality. In explicating Baudrillard's argument, this paper also traces the missing presence of design in traditional political economy, arguing that Baudrillard was one of the first authors, albeit critically, to identify the now essential role of design in postindustrial capitalism.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of gender and women in the political economy of health in armed conflict: a narrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Meagher ◽  
Bothaina Attal ◽  
Preeti Patel
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Health Systems Strengthening ◽  
The Political ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Political Economy Of Health ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background The ripple effects of protracted armed conflicts include: significant gender-specific barriers to accessing essential services such as health, education, water and sanitation and broader macroeconomic challenges such as increased poverty rates, higher debt burdens, and deteriorating employment prospects. These factors influence the wider social and political determinants of health for women and a gendered analysis of the political economy of health in conflict may support strengthening health systems during conflict. This will in turn lead to equality and equity across not only health, but broader sectors and systems, that contribute to sustainable peace building. Methods The methodology employed is a multidisciplinary narrative review of the published and grey literature on women and gender in the political economy of health in conflict. Results The existing literature that contributes to the emerging area on the political economy of health in conflict has overlooked gender and specifically the role of women as a critical component. Gender analysis is incorporated into existing post-conflict health systems research, but this does not extend to countries actively affected by armed conflict and humanitarian crises. The analysis also tends to ignore the socially constructed patriarchal systems, power relations and gender norms that often lead to vastly different health system needs, experiences and health outcomes. Conclusions Detailed case studies on the gendered political economy of health in countries impacted by complex protracted conflict will support efforts to improve health equity and understanding of gender relations that support health systems strengthening.

Sounds without borders: Exploring the cross-national expansion of commercial European Radio Groups

2021 ◽  
pp. 026732312110121
Author(s):  
Montse Bonet ◽  
David Fernández-Quijada
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
The Political ◽  
Cultural Industries ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
National Market ◽  
The Cross ◽  
National Champions ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Expansion Strategies

This article aims to study how private European radio is becoming commercially international through the expansion of radio brands beyond their national market. It is the first ever analysis of the expansion strategies of radio groups across Europe, including their footprint in each market in which they operate, from the political economy of cultural industries. The article maps the main radio groups in Europe, analyses cross-national champions in depth and establishes three main types. This study shows that, thanks to the possibilities of a deregulated market, strengthening the role of the brand and the format, and the agreements with other groups, broadcasting radio has overcome the obstacles that, historically, hindered its cross-border expansion.

The Saint with Indra's Sword: Khruubaa Srivichai and Buddhist Millenarianism in Northern Thailand

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 681-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Bowie
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
The State ◽  
Capital City ◽  
The Political ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Modern Context ◽  
A Charge ◽  
Social Causes

AbstractDespite a growing literature revealing the presence of millenarian movements in both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist societies, scholars have been remarkably reluctant to consider the role of messianic beliefs in Buddhist societies. Khruubaa Srivichai (1878–1938) is the most famous monk of northern Thailand and is widely revered as atonbun, or saint. Althoughtonbunhas been depoliticized in the modern context, the term also refers to a savior who is an incarnation of the coming Maitreya Buddha. In 1920 Srivichai was sent under arrest to the capital city of Bangkok to face eight charges. This essay focuses on the charge that he claimed to possess the god Indra's sword. Although this charge has been widely ignored, it was in fact a charge of treason. In this essay, I argue that the treason charge should be understood within the context of Buddhist millenarianism. I note the saint/savior tropes in Srivichai's mytho-biography, describe the prevalence of millenarianism in the region, and detail the political economy of the decade of the 1910s prior to Srivichai's detention. I present evidence to show that the decade was characterized by famine, dislocation, disease, and other disasters of both natural and social causes. Such hardships would have been consistent with apocalyptic omens in the Buddhist repertoire portending the advent of Maitreya. Understanding Srivichai in this millenarian context helps to explain both the hopes of the populace and the fears of the state during that tumultuous decade.

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