Development, poverty and deprivation are global issues that are usually ignored in architectural discourse, although they constitute the definitive reality of local practices. The modern "center-periphery system", the contemporary reflection at a global scale of an archaic model of organization for exploitation, was very successful to disseminate the good modern manners of consuming one's resources, one's time, one's life. "Progress" as defined by this system was rather focused on consumption, t../MORE

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Development, poverty and deprivation are global issues that are usually ignored in architectural discourse, although they constitute the definitive reality of local practices. The modern "center-periphery system", the contemporary reflection at a global scale of an archaic model of organization for exploitation, was very successful to disseminate the good modern manners of consuming one's resources, one's time, one's life. "Progress" as defined by this system was rather focused on consumption, too: it was reduced to fashion, an endless sequence of charming novelties to chase after and consume ultimately. This notion of "progress" which has no real connection to actual development has also its reflection in philosophy. Ideas are consumed by various circles without releasing any reflexive feedback but translating and without initiating any change in their lives. This may be defined as the consumption side of the Enlightenment, an "encyclopedism" without its productive or inventive half. The "Fetish of the New" is not confined to the realms of art and sex that are usually associated with it (Baker, 1995) but cover the totality of life - and the whole Bourgeoisie worldwide.