Project Cybersyn

[spartan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Cybersyn

What are your opinions on Project Cybersyn?

For me it was an intresting development from the traditional Planned Economies of most of the Socialist states, and i think that it could be said that it had a Technocratic inspiration and influences (Would revlefts resident Technocrats agree?).

Unfortunately, as it says in the link, Project Cybersyn never had time to truely develop to its full potential and in 1973, two years after it had started operating, the US backed Fascist coup of Augusto Pinochet put an end to an intresting development of the Planned Economy being implemented by Chile's then Socialist President Salvador Allende.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Project Cybersyn was a remarkably innovative contribution to Leftist theory that serves practical needs in any post-capitalist society. Corporations like Walmart, Target, and Kroger started adopting a similar practice in the late 80s/early 90s with computer systems, effectively sinking older competitors (Kmart). There is no reason why this couldn't be tried. It's a method of decentralized control with sharp levels of control in case of problems.

On a similar note it's interesting to watch socialist theory progress in the past 30 years thanks to technology. I would recommend reading infosocialism on a feasible alternative to copyrights (that still upholds the artisan).

[Raúl Duke]

DO they have anything like this in Cuba, etc?

[spartan]

DO they have anything like this in Cuba, etc?

I doubt it, though Castro and Allende were reported to be close friends, and some say that Allende killed himself with an AK-47 given to him by Castro.

[manic expression]

I doubt it, though Castro and Allende were reported to be close friends, and some say that Allende killed himself with an AK-47 given to him by Castro.

It would be interesting to find out whether or not Cuba is using this.

By the way, the whole "Allende killed himself with Castro's AK" is a right-wing story; I am 99% sure it is a myth for many reasons.

[dksu]

Apparently Cybersyn was fairly successful during the truckers' strike, in directing the drivers loyal to Allende's revolution into the cities with food. It'd be interesting to know more about it =O.

[spartan]

Here is a great article about Cybersyn and its creator Stafford Beer:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2003/sep/08/sciencenews.chile