4 ms·
Much of the ilegible logic behind institutional machinery is cultural. Whether you characterize it as prestige, pedigry or whatever... it's probably a gross ove
by dalbasal 6y ago
Much of the ilegible logic behind institutional machinery is cultural. Whether you characterize it as prestige, pedigry or whatever... it's probably a gross oversimplification of what's going on.
A corporation is a cultural institution as well as an economic institution, and the cultural side is strong when it comes to these kinds of firms.
A lot of the work (or "work") that these consultancies do relates to board/investors and management's cultural machinery. Being "external, for example, is a defining characteristic. Their reports and suggestions allow management to do stuff that they're having cultural difficulties doing.
In any case, I'd posit two points. Point one is that class plays a major role in these firms, from recruitment to the culture of the firm to the value of the services they provide. This is not surprising considering that their job revolves around confidence from elite individuals. Point two is that humans still respond to class. We all know it, but have a hard time with the moral implications. We excuse. We deny. We point and scream. We create grande theories, new terms and types.
- bluetomcat 6y agoClass-based social structures are deeply rooted in the Anglo-Saxon culture. In early modern times (1500-1700), it was a rigid system where each class was defined by a typical occupation and a level of political influence. Social stratification exists in all cultures, but the notion that class defines your occupation, social circles, cultural manners is a very "Anglophile" thing.
- dalbasal 6y agoAs an irishman, I am deeply offended :) The British class system is undoubtedly rooted in English history, and I'm sure there are plenty of deeper roots too. That class system was/is obviously deeply impactful here. That's why nationalism, republicanism are so intertwined with anti-classism in our modern politics. But in some sense, roots are arbitrary . The cultural memes and tendencies it manifests aren't the important part. Cultures, power structures and everything else aren't uniquely english, I'm loathe to admit ;) Occupation, social circles & cultural memes are pretty central to class equivalent parts of modern culture. FWIW, the early modern period isn't generally considered anglo-saxon, at least politically or linguistically. It does does have an ethnonym connotation in all post anglos saxon periods, including the present.
- BlueTemplar 6y agoI've heard that the Anglo-Saxons (British) actually made the current caste system in India. Anyone has more information about this ?
- haihaibye 6y agoDNA evidence show "these groups have stayed genetically separate while living side by side for thousands of years" https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/health/india-south-asia-castes-genetics-diseases.html?smid=tw-share https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/health/india-south-asia-c...
- barry-cotter 6y agoComplete bollocks. The genetic evidence is that most jatis (the ethnic groups that are constitutive of the broader caste groups) have been endogamous for over a 1,000 years. It’s completely normal in India for people from the same village to be as genetically distant from each other as a Sardinian and a Swede.