The Fourth Industrial Revolution: A New Ideology

Year 2023, , 127 - 147, 24.05.2023

Translator: Esra Tunçay

https://doi.org/10.26650/4boyut.2023.1285277

Abstract

The hegemonic construal of the Fourth Industrial Revolution portrays the rapid technological developments as a bold, new Industrial Revolution. Due to the sparse evidence of any such revolution across the totality of social, political, cultural, and economic institutions locally and globally, the focus must turn to how this ideological framework functions to further the interests of social and economic elites worldwide. This article examines how Klaus Schwab, as the principal intellectual of the World Economic Forum and the interests it represents, has formulated and disseminated this ideology. The article argues the framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to bolster the contingent neoliberalism of the post-Washington consensus period, and therefore it serves to obscure the continuing decline of the globalized world order with the narrative of a brave new world.

Keywords

hegemony, ideology, Industrial Revolution, information technology, ICTs, neoliberalism, technological rationality, World Economic Forum

Dördüncü Sanayi Devrimi: Yeni Bir İdeoloji

Abstract

“Dördüncü Sanayi Devrimi’nin hegemonik yorumu, hızlı teknolojik gelişmeleri cesur, yeni bir sanayi devrimi olarak resmediyor. Yerel ve küresel olarak sosyal, politik, kültürel ve ekonomik kurumların bütününde böyle bir devrime dair çok az kanıt olduğundan, odak noktası bu ideolojik çerçevenin dünya çapındaki sosyal ve ekonomik seçkinlerin çıkarlarını ilerletmek için nasıl işlediğine çevrilmelidir. Bu makale, Dünya Ekonomik Forumu’nun ve temsil ettiği çıkarların başlıca entelektüeli olarak Klaus Schwab’ın bu ideolojiyi nasıl formüle ettiğini ve yaydığını incelemektedir. Makale, “Dördüncü Sanayi Devrimi” çerçevesinin, Washington sonrası mutabakat döneminin olumsal neoliberalizmini desteklediğini ve bu nedenle, “cesur yeni bir dünya” anlatısıyla küreselleşen dünya düzeninin süregelen düşüşünü karartmaya hizmet ettiğini savunuyor.

Keywords

Hegemonya, ideoloji, Sanayi Devrimi, bilgi teknolojisi, BİT, neoliberalizm, teknolojik rasyonalite, Dünya Ekonomik Forumu

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