Class exploitation in Canada*

Onze évaluations du taux de plus value de Marx ou de l'exploitation de classe sont présentées aux industries manufacturiàres canadiennes, pour les années allant de 1917 à 1971. Les analyses suggèrent que I'exploitation de classe a augmenté d'une façon dramatique au Canada, surtout depuis la deuxième guerre mondiale. Il est aussi expliqué que I'exploitation de classe et les conflits de classe qui en résultent sont largement démontrés par les grèves et les mises a pied. L'exploitation de classe peut expliquer jusqu'à 56 pour cent du désaccord dans les conflits de classe. On y conclut que l'approche marxiste pour l'analyse de classe offre beaucoup de possibilités quant à l'étude des inágalités sociales. Eleven alternative estimates of Marx's rate of surplus value or class exploitation are presented for the manufacturing industries of Canada between 1917 and 1971. The analyses suggest that class exploitation in Canada has dramatically increased over time, especially since the Second World War. It is also shown that class exploitation generally has a positive effect on overt class conflict measured by strikes and lockouts. Class exploitation explains up to 56 per cent of the variance in overt class conflict. It is concluded that a Marxian approach to class analysis has much potency in the study of social inequality.     

The confidential patient: the social construction of therapeutic relationships in general medical practice

The interpersonal relationship between doctor and patient is fundamental to general medical practice. In this paper we explore the ways in which general practitioners make sense of the changing political economy of this relationship, as it is restructured by ideas about the patient as consumer, and as it increasingly constitutes the consultation as a point of interaction that may be intrinsically therapeutic. In particular, we explore the ways in which the consultation is the site of negotiated power relations between doctor and patient, and is the site of the doctor's negotiation of powerful discourses of professional and institutional identity.     

Manned space travel as a cultural mission

All large-scale technology options in recent history were received by the public, partly with enthusiasm, partly with rejection. This applies to space exploration as a whole, but particularly to human spaceflight. However, the conclusion that human spaceflight involves huge costs for little benefit by no means justifies its rejection as a pointless endeavor. In fact, there may be a trans-utilitarian or non-monetary rationale to justify human spaceflight. Consequently we have to distinguish between utilitarian and trans-utilitarian ends of spaceflight. It is this system of utilitarian and trans-utilitarian ends, and the resources allocated to each of them, that constitutes the culture of a society. As a result, human spaceflight emerges as a cultural option. Such options neither need to be taken under all circumstances, nor does the acceptance of any such option mean that they should be exempt from further critical reflection. Rather, having considered all other cultural options, they should be pursued as far as they can be afforded.     

理解技术设计

通过对“设计”一词词源学的考察和对技术设计史的追溯探讨了技术设计的本质,指出工程中的技术设计关注效率形式,忽略审美形式.工程设计是用几何分析和数学公式来表达,然后在真正的制造开始之前用模型来测试制作中有可能会发生的情况.这种新的制作与思维形式,使得制作和使用具有了人类历史上前所未有的巨大权力和效率；但同时正因为此,也要求人们对它可能产生的后果给予更多的关注.这种新的伦理要求称为周全义务.尽管这样的伦理自身充满了挑战,但仍旧表明技术设计是有形而上学含义的.最后指出了一条通向技术设计实践真实性的道路.     

Governmental planning and budgeting with multiple objective models

This paper presents a goal programming model development and application for a state level public health care agency. Only limited applications of macro planning processes related to health care have been presented in the literature. In that regard, this paper describes briefly the goal programming model, the background of the agency involved and the specific models developed. Three formulations of the model are presented involving (1) the resources required to achieve all goals, (2) the goal attainment status utilizing a likely budget and (3) a proposal for resolving the goal desire-resource limitation dilemma.     

Initial moves with school-family conflict: Entering,engaging and contracting

When beginning with a situation involving the dysfunction of a child, the clinical social worker should take care to enter and engage the relevant family and school systems in a manner that gives the best chance for effective treatment. Using an ecological-systems perspective, the authors discuss problem development as a process, and present a model that searches for accessible variables and establishes an early narrow contract. These moves earn the clinician a place in the system, credibility, and the leverage to work for change.The model of practice presented here is partially based upon work done in 1977–1983 with students of the Columbia University School of Social Work in a student unit based at the Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York. The unit was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health Community Mental Health M.S. Program (Grant#5T01-1389505).     

Working for families with dysfunctional children: An approach and structure for the first family therapy interview

A preplanned and structured format for conducting the first family treatment interview is presented in which the assessment task is seen as an opportunity to help a family succeed in constructively, coherently, and logically looking at itself, the problem child, and the problems with which it is attempting to deal. Strategies of modelling openness and competence are suggested. Building on the family's perceptions and plan in the empathic and respectful way is postulated as a way of avoiding power struggles and setting the stage for collaboration. The model is designed to provide a successful first session for the family and therapist, during which they complete a challenging task.     

Narrative, organizations and research

Given the rapid expansion of narrative approaches in management and organization theory in recent years, this paper investigates the contribution of this literature to the understanding of organizations and processes of organizing. The paper tells the story of the development of narrative approaches in organizational theory. Narrative's contribution to substantive areas of organization theory is evaluated. These developments are then reviewed in relation to an ongoing tension between story and science. We conclude by contemplating some of the criticisms, and the future, of narrative research.