Meeting the Economical Targets: Utopian Way - Term Paper Example

Meeting The Economical Targets: Utopian Way        The Utopia, as the word suggests, is a concept or feeling of optimism and actually an unrealistic outlook, which depicts perfection in everything. This is concept adeptly explicated by Sir Thomas More in his book: The Utopia. Here he describes an imaginary society or community where the socio-economic and political scenario works in a seemingly perfect state. This fictional territory lies somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. This approach is largely based on the Platonic concept depicted in his work: Republic. It is a vision encompassing all the beauties that can dominate the society by removing the miseries and every evil associated. Eventually it will bring out an optimum well being of the members of the society through different means of achieving the flawless structure as desired, and the best-organized way of reaching the summit. The various “Utopian” fronts to be considered and concentrated upon are the Economic, Political and Historic, Religious, Scientific and Technological. The utopian idea originates from different cultural, societal, religious and some other cosmogonies, which intertwines human existence with the laws of nature. The relationship was in perfect instinctive harmony of happiness and desire fulfillment as suggested by the past or some myths. In the early 19th century, some of the major utopian notions developed. Most of the international communities were then trying to build up a utopian economic framework. The movement composed egalitarian distribution of commodities, abolition of money, and full freedom in choosing the field of work by the citizens completely in their own discretion. “The Industrial Revolution, however challenged the Greco-Christian belief in the dominance of rationality over passion, and utopian writers, Bellamy among them, drew upon their historical consciousness to project an open ended and dynamic utopian society into the future” (Tichi, 27). The initial socialistic movements started off slowly deviated away from the utopian approach as the theories started to develop. Marx strongly criticized the early socialism theories described as in utopian concept. The Capitalist and the Socialist approach were quite similar in terms of the common economic issue, which the former addresses as “Market Failure” and the latter addresses as “Planning Failure”. The actual utopian concept was to create an economy with a perfect blend of Capitalism and Socialism. Communism, in fact was trying to decipher and form a “Classless” utopian socio-economic structure, but no communist nation was able to reach that peak. In the course of political utopia, the government of a nation actually tries to establish a flawless society - “We hope to transcend all such problems by drawing from history and real-world conditions, offering vision and strategy for what is possible in transforming societys defining institutions and in revolutionizing human existence in all spheres of life” (Spannos). Global utopia can defined in the best sense of world peace. It is considered to be one of the possible conclusions of history. Both of the political and historical utopias are very rare to find in reality. The most common utopian structure till date being followed is the religious utopia. The widespread devotees can be found in almost all kinds of human societies. Belonging to various religions like the Jewish, Islamic, Christianity etc. one common standpoint of existing in a particular state of enlightenment, which is described as the Garden of Delight, is being stressed upon. The essence of this belief lies in the core concept of freedom from every possible kinds of worry, where there always exists easy availability of a simple remedial measure for countering a problem, if any. “Utopian socialists believed that a "New Man" with higher moral standards should be raised” (Peltoniemi, 2) - The concept is quite suggestive of the mindset of the people under the religious utopia, that only through the perfect upbringing and having complete faith in God, the optimum level can be reached which will ultimately lead an individual to the beauties of boundless happiness. The visionary belief in scientific and technological utopia carries the notion that advancements in science and technology will vitally result in absence of all sufferings and death. Technology will be used merely as for the improvements in the living standards of mankind and to eradicate every other threat. The sovereignty of choice should be there in the work front so that one while evolving will be able to participate in forming groups and thereby institutionalize the social forms according to their preference - “The Culture is characterized by equality—machine sentience is fully recognized as constituting personhood—and there is no material want” (Vint, 79). There are some basic elements which constituted the utopian society as described by More in “Utopia”. The first comes Political and Social structure, where he illustrates the feeling of independence in micro sense starting from an individual family’s’ perspective play. There is plenty of freedom in every choice of social order and elections in specific time intervals and on a homogeneous scale (applicable for every council all over the community). Next is the Property and Distribution of goods - Complete abolition of private property and monetary systems. Every month free exchange of commodities within the city and the country is strictly observed combined with a festival. The head of every family has the right to pick up the goods according to their family demands stored in certain numbers of safe houses distributed throughout the community and allocation of the regional surpluses to those areas of the territory suffering scarcity. Everything starting from gold, silver, pearls and diamonds are devalued and hold no material significance. Social gatherings are organized frequently like meals are held at community halls. The Production side is captured by the integration of both industrial and agricultural sectors. Distribution of work is established as everyone works in agricultural as well as in the industrial sectors for some fixed interval of time and it is always shifting. All the family members who are engaging themselves into a particular occupation know trade relation. Family structure can be described as each household is domestic as well as an industrial unit. The head of a city, a master or a mistress should the decision-maker a household consisting of 10-16 members. Women Status is given as in a patriarchal set up. They should be serving main meals and husbands possess the power to reprimand their wives. However they are not restricted from the priesthood. Education and Culture consists of a general belief in God but respect should be there for all other creeds. Cultivation of the mind is provided by the greatest pleasure that can be obtained through spirited and blissful livelihood. Traveling cross-provinces without proper identity proof or passport is considered to be serious offence or Crime.       With the advent of the new millennium, there have been striking changes in the global socio-economic structure and the Canadians were been trying to adjust with the flow. The growth of international trade, the rise in investment structure and the openness of the market were some of the key features, which operated during this onset. Other important developmental steps incorporate the rise of complete market-based economic organizational structure and direct economic regulations by the western industrial nations, a number of new potential industrial economies in the East-Asia emerged in the global market arrangements aiding in the international trade flow, the advancements in the information technologies facilitating more and more influence to the goods and services production, and shift in the production pattern the industrial economies from lower to higher value-added activities and services. Canadian business drive is greatly propelled by the technological advantages gained from the free trade activities. Telecommunication system significantly aided the economic success. The citizens are happy in terms their work life as they can easily relocate themselves in anywhere for business purposes. Here we can relate the utopian idea of freedom to choose and work in any sector by the members belonging to a perfect society or community. By the end of the 20th century, Canada has witnesses increasing dependency on the telecommunication system and IT industries, which were considered to be the main driving factors fostering economic affluence. In 1999, Agreement on International Trade (AIT) was signed by the Canadian government. It delineated points concerning reduction in trade barriers to the maximum possible extent and establishing an open, stable and efficient stable domestic market structure. The rules under the mentioned plan encompass general regulations pertaining to the citizens to have full rights or freedom to migrate across borders of the territory and complete transparency regarding the policy decision-making of the governing authorities accessible by any individual, business and other governments. These points as mentioned in AIT forms quite similar utopian socio-economic outlook towards the attainment of perfection and freedom. The employment growth level within the industrial structure of Canada, in the recent times has experienced the need for knowledge as a major factor of production. Although there has been more employment in the industries using low-knowledge base rather than high knowledge sectors, the latter accounted for a greater share in the recent growth level. “Studies indicate that there has also been a significant shift in demand favoring more skilled occupations and workers within industries” (Nodeau). We can trace the production and employment side to be following the utopian pattern as mentioned earlier, allowing shifts and relocation of resources as and when required, with proper consent and preference of the employees.       The utopian notions can also construct the economic goals, as set by Canada for the progressive structure as targeted in the 21st century. The e-commerce trade is supposed to get promoted globally with diligent support from the information technology industries. Within the OECD countries, Canada is opting to gain impetus in the Research & Development (R&D) sector. (“Economic Targets for Canada”) The ideal system as depicted in the utopian society to prosper and progress requires proper management coupled by active participation of the workforce. The government should encourage people to come up with innovative ideas for the R&D sector to flourish, with enough freedom to choose the work front in which they are most comfortable with. Although the policies and the goals are set as material targets which were forbidden in the utopian context, a more realistic way should be undertaken keeping the essence of basic utopian ideas. The commercialization rates of Canadian universities and labs, has to be in parity with the same of the U.S., along with the dollar value of the capital investments per capita. This brings out the utopian notion of indiscrimination and to form an unbiased society with where rights of equality must prevail above all. Computer literacy is a must for all the children to create a perfect future infrastructure and doubling the current job-related trainings. The utopian theory holds in mostly realistic aspect where the educational level shapes & uplifts the moral standards and paves the way towards ‘enlightenment’, which can only be realized in future growth prospects of Canada being one of the top three industrial nations all across the globe.        Works Cited 1. Bellamy, Edward, Looking backward, 2000-1887, Penguin Classics, 1982 2. “Economic Targets for Canada”, Canada Online, retrieved on March 28, 2009 from: http://canadaonline.about.com/library/weekly/aa092700a.htm. 3. Dimitrijevic, Andre, Interprovincial Trade: The War Against Trade Barriers, Business Development, 2009, retrieved on March 28, 2009 from: (http://www.ecdevjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=250&Itemid=50). 4. More, Thomas, Utopia, Adamant Media Corporation, 2000. 5. Nodeau Serge, “Global Economic Trends: Adjusting to Dramatic Changes”, International Business, 2009, retrieved on March 28, 2009 from: http://www.ecdevjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=238&Itemid=30). 6. Peltoniemi Teuvo., Finnish Utopian Settlements In North America, 1988, retrieved on March 28, 2009 from: http://www.sosiomedia.fi/utopia/na_settlements.pdf 7. Sheridan, John W., Fostering Growth: The Bell Canada Economic Development Fund, 1999, accessed on 28th March 2009, http://www.ecdevjournal.com/pdf/1999_pdf/art29-99.pdf 8. Spannos, Chris., What is Real Utopia?, 2008, retrieved on March 28, 2009 from: http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/18100 9. Vint, Sherryl. Bodies of tomorrow: technology, subjectivity, science fiction, University of Toronto Press. 2007 Read More