856 



9« Rodmv \V Nichnh 



let us scan a shtirt list of the "dbstaclcs" that, according to the Second Session ot the 

 Preparatory Committee, constitute key topics lor Vienna. The lists in Figure 5 grew 

 out of the commonsense view that the LDCs should identify and overcome their most 

 critical, specific obstacles hindering social and economic development. Fascination 

 with debate about such obstacles seems to have waned during the last half of 1978, 

 although the concept fits so neatly into a demand-negotiating tactical approach that it 

 may return to prominence at Vienna. 



FIGURE 5. A Summary of Obstacles to Development. 



At the mtioml level: 



(i) Policies, regulation, priorities for science and technology, research and 



development; 



(ii) Education and human resources; 



(iii) Infrastructure; 



(iv) Information systems: 



(v) Financial resources; 



(vi) Choice, transfer, adaptation, and diffusion of technology; 



(vii) Technological innovation systems. 



At the regional level: 



(i) Identification of problems of common interest; 



(ii) Coherent systems for educational, scientific and technological cooperation; 

 (iii) Economic and technological cooperation agreements among Member 



States; 

 (iv) Arrangements for common training centers: 

 (v) Joint investments in R&D programs of common interest. 



At the international level: 



(i) Appropriateness of programs for the education and training of personnel 



from developing countries in developed countries: 

 (ii) Migration of talents and skills trom developing countries; 

 (iii) Concerns about research and development needs and infrastructure of 



developing countries: role of the United Nations system; 

 (iv) Concerns about research and development needs and infrastructure of 



developing countries: role of non United Nations international system; 

 (v) Financial resources: the role of international financial institutions and the 



nature of financial assistance: 

 (vi) Human and financial resources devoted to armaments and military re- 

 search and de\elopment: 

 (vii) Relevant scientific and technological information systems. 



Some observers list manv more "obstacles" and other analysts list tewcr Ibis "otticial 

 listing was used b\ the UN"s Advisors Comniuifc on the Applications ot Science and 

 Technology to Development, drawing upon tliv lunucr list de\i-l(.pi.-(l bv ibe Prt'paratorv 

 Committee tor UNCSID during its nn-etinu in Jaiuiar\ I'ebruary I97S. 



