SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 



Might there be some value in thinking about economic development 

 as science capacity? In this view, the developed nation is one that has 

 learned to house scientific activity. At some historical juncture, its 

 humanists and practical men moved over and made room for the scientist. At 

 first the new element's contribution was obscure. His theories were dif- 

 ficult and abstract, but their application through technology gained him 

 understanding and support. Science became an orthodox profession with an 

 independent ethos, and the society gained an important monitoring and 

 regulatory capacity which gave new perspective to the issues that the prac- 

 tical men and the humanists had been unable to resolve. It was now possible 

 to systematically scrutinize and up-date current practice. The society 

 became dynamic, venturesome, growth-oriented. 



Some underdeveloped societies are without the resources and pro- 

 fessional talent that sustained growth requires. Others have them, and 

 yet have not responded to massive resource allocation both from their own 

 bounty and via external aid. Why are the growth processes not now irreversible 

 within these societies? One explanation may be their failure to effectively 

 house scientific activity. Their humanists and practical men - locked in 

 ideological debate - have not moved over to make room for the scientist. 

 Although first-class science may be economically justifiable; it remains 

 second class, the handmaiden of other social factions. Science has not be- 

 come an orthodox profession. You can't earn a living that way. Young nationals 

 undertaking scientific training abroad hesitate to go back. Those that do, 

 make their peace with the practical men or the equally science-free academic 

 humanists. The society has been unable to make the structural leap forward 



