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For Want of, 1 Nail ^ 97 



developing countries are massive, their near term capaliilitv tor alisorhin^ additional 

 science and technology is often modest. Yet relatively small increments of qualified 

 individuals and relevant technical information — applied astutely and consistently 

 within a context of carefully related national initiatives — could make a difference 

 rather soon. 



Finally, it cannot be repeated too often that the most obvious boundary condition 

 in every LDC today is the shorta.t^e of trained manpcnver. Until nations step up the 

 lengthy process of technical training, progress will continue to be slow, spotty, and 

 despairingly insufficient. 



Many uncertainties for policymakers arise simply because it isn"t clear what tech- 

 nical approaches work best in assistance and ci)llaboration with developing countries. 

 Historical analyses in a few I. DCs do not lead to unecjuivocal conclusions about ideal 

 formulas for the future. Moreover, the critical differences among past and pre.sent 

 efforts throughout the world mean that comparative analysis is both difficult and 

 essential."' 



Economic uncertainties— expressed in international and national terms — are also 

 complicated. For example, balancing the ^hort run gains from protectionalist barriers 

 versus the long run advantages of free trade is important for most countries in 

 sorting out their incentives for reliablv introducing .science and technology." 

 Furthermore, the economic health of the DCs may depend more hea\ ily in the future 

 upon the economic progress of the LDCs. But analysis of such matters has yielded 

 politically ambiguous results." To mention success in Singapore, for instance, is to 

 touch off political debate rather than economic di.scussion. 



Political choices and uncertainties are cnerriding. The drives towards nationalism 

 and state planning conflict with the historically proven strategies for international 

 action and for nongovernmental technological partnerships in many areas of 

 development." To take a comparatively uncontrovers'ial cxamjile. it is natural for 

 each country to want to possess a research criented graduate university, but, since 

 few countries can afford to do that well and e\en fewer are prepared to think about 

 such a goal in regional terms, .scarce talent and resources are (^tten spread too thinly 

 As another illustration, ideologically oriented governmental rules about restricting 

 imports of private capital often obstruct, rather than promote, the transfer of effective 

 technologies. 



Generally speaking, the diffusion of power within man\ We^-icrn dec isu>n making 

 systems and the international scattering of power centers coinbiiu' ic ni.ike it cliltKult 

 to reach intergovernmental political decisions and make tluin sink. e\en m those 

 cases where what might be called an experts" consensus has cmcryrd. hi )\inu ular. 

 the constant criticism of multinationals often seems to be b.iscd on ,i political .ignuia 

 rather than on a pragmatic .search for how to unleash more imtciitial tor achicvmu 

 the economic and technological priorities. 



Such varied uncertainties underscore the challenge of dissecting thesi' policy 

 dilemmas in a full length book, much less m this short essay. And the connections 

 between East West i.ssues and North South issues, such as the significant new 

 military trends that affect the future of the develo|iing areas, have not e\en been 

 brought up. 



However, to conclude this c|uick survey of policy issues that relate to UNCSTD. 



