ABSTRACT
Gray is sceptical about future prospects of social amelioration or the rolling back of the effects of increasing trends towards cultural imperialism. He raises questions about the human capacity to mobilise and take action. He is, however, clear about what needs to be done, and whose responsibility it is: ‘A basic shift in philosophy is needed ... The task of transnational organisations should be to fashion a framework of regulation within which diverse markets can flourish’ (1999: 234-5). Economic life needs again to reconnect with human values and social bonding, to develop companies as social institutions, contexts for meeting the enduring human needs for attachment and affirmation of personal worth. Technologies need to be developed that are more respectful of the environment and are mindful of the need to replace as well as extract resources for future planetary stability (see also Gray, 1993).
