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About this quote

What does it mean?
Involving non‑Western peoples in industrial conflicts may benefit production more than the oppressed themselves.
In plain terms
Their involvement may help industry more than the people.
What can you take from it?
Beware of exploitation under the guise of progress.

Where it applies

  • global trade negotiations
  • development aid

Putting it to work

  • evaluate who truly gains from projects

Questions to consider

  • How can we ensure benefits reach the intended groups?
  • What safeguards are needed?

Another view

The claim assumes a uniform outcome for diverse peoples.

More from Theodor Adorno

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  3. 'The world is systematized horror, but therefore it is to do the world too much honour to think of it entirely as a system; for its unifying principle is divis…

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