The Relocation of Authority in a Shrinking World

ion, explicit inference, and procedural reasoning. 19 The study from which this quotation comes was organized around observations of pulp mill operators, bankers, and clerical employees, all of whom were employed by firms process of computerizing their production operations and business routines. The patterns found were consistent across different situations; they involved a transition frequently described in same words: 'It's a thinking job now'; 'You must use your brain, not your hands'; 'The job is more mental, it takes place your head.' In effect, the terrain of effort had shifted, not from muscles to brain, but from complete sensual involvement of worker's physical presence to an involvement that depended more exclusively upon worker's quality of mind.20 To extent that today's citizens are thus ensconced a world of split screens, zoom lens, and instant replays of television and graphics, spread sheets, data bases, and search-and-revise routines of computers, it is difficult to imagine that capacities they bring to politics remain unaffected. If nothing else-and there is probably a great deal more--their ability to discern how they can contribute to collective action seems bound to be enhanced. But argument that people are increasingly skilful with respect to public affairs is not confined to changes wrought by microelectronic revolution alone. Education has also undergone phenomenal growth same period. In all parts of world and for males and females at all levels, from primary school through university, student population has steadily risen from 1960 through 1985,21 and as a result more and more