ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how the effectiveness of the government’s activities was mediated by the cultural context. One aspect of that context was the cultural acceptance of pesticide use, which was itself perpetuated by pesticide ignorance, a tendency among First World citizens to view toxicants as the price to pay for living in affluent consumer societies, and the education system’s failure to adequately train all students about toxicants. Another aspect of that context is the population’s adherence to the flawed pluralist conception of the state, which views the state as a neutral arbiter of conflicts, as opposed to being oriented towards prioritizing industry interests over public health. A third aspect of that context is the general population’s ignorance about the politics surrounding the production of knowledge and ignorance, which can also be traced to the education system. This chapter will give readers a better understanding of how the effectiveness of government activities can be mediated by the cultural context, and educational deficiencies, in particular. Moreover, it underscores the central role universities and the rest of the education system play in creating the conditions that make it easier for governments to manipulate its citizens.
