Capitalizing on the Information Economy

thought at the foundations of the human rights perspective. As other rightwing analysts before him, Knopff shows that not all inequalities are the result of contemporary discrimination or oppression. He argues that much of the language of human rights advocates, including the key term 'systemic' discrimination, is used with a certain ambiguity and abandon. Like other critics on both right and left, he observes that much of the income and occupational inequality between genders has its roots in the division of labour at home and not in the workplace. In a parallel vein, he notes that inter-ethnic inequalities have complex sources not rooted in simple evidence of discrimination. Few areas of policy entail as powerful emotions as the human rights/affirmative action nexus. Equally valid but mutually exclusive conceptions of equality wage war against each other. Those who abhor the tenacity of historic malevolent racisms lock horns with those who dread the emergence of new racisms created by benevolent social engineering. Aversion to male chauvinism confronts fear of female supremacism. The field does not afford the climate of calm reflection and shared evidence necessary for an objective evaluation of the worth of this book or any other on the topic. As a neo-liberal, a kind of sceptical constructivist, I am pleased that Knopff displayed the courage to inveigh against what was once considered revealed truth but am

Economic geography · Economic system · Economics · Geography · Regional science · Regional Development and Policy