In Search of Hidden Stories behind Global University Rankings and Politicization of Universality of Knowledge

Abstract

The concept of ‘Knowledge society’ is precursored by the idea of ‘Post-industrial society’. The remarkable transition in the societal system was initiated in the 1960s, while people were entering into a new type of society beyond the industrial and the agrarian era altogether. The first complete picture of the ‘Post-industrial society’ was presented by the distinguished sociologist Daniel Bell in 1973. According to Bell, ‘Service occupations grow at the expense of those producing material goods, and white-collar workers come to outnumber bluecollar workers employed in factories’. The work in the service sector requires stronger knowledge-base and intellectual ability compared to the work required in industrial occupations.