Cities 07

OBE #4 Space Flow’s Influence towards a Dual City (revised)

My particular interest on space flow is how capitalists’ use information technology to further disconnect socio-economic classes. It took me a bit to conceptualize “space flow” and whether the term is positive or negative. In general society is extremely fortunate that information technologies ease communication mobility. That said, the technical use of information is expensive and supports capitalist power used to further isolates social classes. Webber and Castells agree we’re living in an information era that no longer relies on urban spatial settings to produce affluent communities. The paradox of space flow is that it inspires communication creating multicultural friendly environments which is great, but it also instigates a dual city of separate social classes. Space flow is rapidly impacting society due to the increase of capitalist power and the extinction of social mobility. The technological revolution threatens social mobility by abusing information and as Castell says is, “polarizing social groups according to their skills.” (481) Societal isolation through space flow is made possible when a select few choose the direction for the technologically driven global economy. As information technology continues to develop we may be entering the age of exploitation in the purest Marxian form. This information era is basically just a progressive overrepresentation of previous nodal capitalist societies. Like Webber explains, “Large metropolitan centers that used to be primarily goods-producing loci have become interchangeable junctions within the international communications networks.” (473) The difference is that today the power is far more concentrated and information technology is producing constant corporate intercourse.
It’s hardly a secret that businesses create social bonds to sustain economic prestige however these globe trotting hooligans are using space flow that puts society at risk for becoming a“duel cities.” For one, space flow eases the ability to outsource production with minimal workers. Information technology also encourages capitalists to reach an extensive market to universally exploit. The point Castells is trying to make is that using technology is shrinking the working class by dissipating the job market meanwhile increasing institutional relationships. It’s great that businesses can flourish through technological advances such as email, video conferencing or simple cell phone use and attract international relations. The problem is that “Only a minority of people are truly integrated into the global economy and the entire dominant economic and political centre’s are concentrated networks” (478) The reason we’re headed towards a duel city is because space flow makes institutional intercourse effortless and simplifies capitalists’ search of new markets to exploit at a faster pace then previous generations.
Castell and Webber argue that we’re headed towards a duel city is due to the increase of polarizing capital harmony that’s concentrating all the wealth, technology and power. “As levels of education and skill rise, more and more people are being tied into the spatially extensive communities that used to only engage a few.” (473)
Webber argues that information technology, or space flow, changes the structure in traditional cosmopolitan areas because capital powers are not bond to a physical city. It’s becoming increasingly less significant for companies to geographically locate their business to target a specific market because they can reach an international crowd through virtual technology.