Importance of technology for development
A political economy perspective :
The Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced
Technological Education (SLIATE) held its sixth award ceremony on
November 4 at the BMICH. The following is the Convocation Address by
National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences
Director Professor Laksiri Fernando, Guest of Honour at the Morning
Session.
I sincerely appreciate the pleasure to be the guest of honour at the
convocation ceremony of SLIATE, the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced
Technological Education. I wish to thank institute Director General
Kamal Pathmasiri, for his kind invitation, for me to be here and to
address you at this convocation. Special thanks go to Higher Education
Minister Professor Wiswa Warnapala, under whose guidance the activities
of SLIATE are conducted.
Sri Lanka has benefitted from technological advances in
water management |
The primary reason to accept this invitation with enthusiasm is my
appreciation of what SLIATE has been doing in terms of middle level
training in various types of technical vocations/professions, valuable
for the country’s development. This convocation is a clear indication
and outcome of that effort.
My first task, therefore, is to congratulate all those who are
graduating with their Diplomas and other certificates. I wish them, ‘all
the best for their future.’ My selected topic today is “The Importance
of Technology for Development.” What I am presenting here is a short
‘political economy perspective’ on the subject as it might be the best
way to understand the connection between technology and development.
Common understanding of technology
Even for an average person, “the importance of technology for
development” might be common sense today. We acquire this common sense
through experience. If ground water is not easily accessible, we know
the benefit of an Artesian-Well. Before the advent of the Artesian-Well
in Sri Lanka, the Jaffna people invented the Thula-Well or what the
southerners call Ardi-Linda. In this device, a lever is used to lift
water from deep dug wells. It is easier on labour, less time consuming
and more productive. Similar devices are used in China even today called
Jiegao. Even after the advent of the Artesian-Well, Jaffna people have
continued to use the Thula-Well as appropriate because it is
eco-friendly, less expensive and served the purpose.
The above story shows both sides of the coin of technology, the
advantages and disadvantages. We need to be mindful of some
disadvantages of some technology but that is not a reason to reject
technology. Technology is one of the main drivers of society and its
progress. This is established by history, both world history and our own
history.
Sri Lanka inherits the legacy of an ancient civilization based on an
advanced technology in water management. Our forefathers managed to
overcome the vagaries of the monsoon climate, at times extremely wet and
other times extremely dry, by using this technology. It was on the basis
of that technology that our ancient societies prospered when the country
was not affected by external aggression or internal war, like what we
experienced in recent times. Large scale irrigation networks were
possible using this technology crisscrossing the country.
Among other inventions, the Bisokotuwa (the Valvepit) was a high
point in these technological advances of our ancient irrigation.
Bisokotuwa served the purpose of a modern day sluice gate. The basis of
these technological advances in water management was the thorough grasp
of hydraulic principles in order that these technological inventions
could be created. It was known that without scientific knowledge,
inventions in technology or engineering was not possible. This is the
first point I wish to emphasize today, the importance of science and
scientific thinking in our economic development.
Scientific knowledge
There were some scholars like Max Weber, for example, who thought
that the Buddhist or Hindu societies will never advance in technology or
science, and will never achieve economic development in the way that the
Western societies have achieved. This is wrong. Already some of our
Asian countries like Japan, China and India have refuted these
assertions in very clear-cut practical terms. Some of these prejudices
are unfortunately due to ignorance. Some others are based on
self-interest; self-interest for economic and ideological dominance.
These scholars or leaders thought that our societies are fatalistic and
our people are inherently impotent. However, that is not the case or the
truth.
The scientific methodology or the scientific approach in analyzing
and resolving problems is inherent in some of our traditional
philosophies. Buddhism is one example.
Only difference might be that our traditional thinking also gave
priority to sustainability. It also looked into not only the material
world, but also the spiritual well-being of the society and the
individual.
Therefore, it is important that while we learn science and technology
of the modern origin we at the same time be mindful of the overall
scientific or philosophical concerns that the Buddha and other religious
leaders have taught us.
The best guide in this respect might be the Four Noble Truths. It is
possible to apply these truths, without distorting their religious
character, to understand and resolve the development problems that the
country is facing as at present or any other problem for that matter.
The first premise in this understanding or analysis is the concept of
Dukkha. This means the existence of problems and issues or the problem
of life (suffering) itself. There is no doubt that underdevelopment is a
suffering for many people especially when they are below the poverty
line. Poverty is undoubtedly a suffering.
When a person does not have an employment or a gainful employment
with a reasonable salary, or a reasonable income from any other source,
it is a suffering. When parents do not have enough income to spend on
their children’s education it is also a suffering for both the parents
and the children alike.
Scientific approach
The list of suffering for economic reasons could be extended, but the
point is the same. Therefore, the first task of the scientific approach
to development is to understand the gravity and the extent of the
problem Dukkha as the Buddha preached.
The second is the Buddha’s concept of Samudaya. This is more
important. The right answers to the development problem/s would depend
on the correct understanding of the reasons or the causes. In the case
of development or underdevelopment, there should be a scientific way of
analyzing and understanding the causes and the reasons for the
situation.
The Buddha himself has developed the laws of cause and effect (hethu
pala vadaya) which can be employed for analytical purposes. We should
also not be reluctant to employ any of the Western derived methods in
scientific investigation of causation to understand or to analyze the
multiple causes for the underdevelopment or poverty in this country. But
we need to be mindful of employing finally what is relevant to the
country without blindly applying what is imported from the West or any
part of the world for that matter. Kalama Sutta which expounds critical
thinking in a very important philosophical manner could be our guide in
this respect.
The third premise is Nirodha. This is also a scientific conclusion or
a premise and this is about the possibility of uncovering and resolving
the problems of life, which could equally be applicable to the problems
of underdevelopment and development. This is the belief in resolving
problems in a scientific and a methodological manner.
Nirodha is also the necessary optimism and positive thinking that is
necessary in resolving problems. This is also where the Buddha refutes
fatalism.
The belief in Nirodha is very much needed in Sri Lanka and the
development might not be achieved if there is no strong belief in the
possibility of development. For Nirodha to be a reality, active
participation of the people in development work is of utmost necessity.
The fourth and perhaps the most important step is the Magga. In the
context of our present discussion, this means the way leading to
resolving the problems of underdevelopment, uneven development, poverty,
unemployment, inflation, income disparities and so on and so forth. On
the question of development, it is my argument here that it should come
through technology or mainly through technology. One might even say that
technology is the ‘engine of growth’ whether in the private sector or
the public sector. What is highlighted is technology as a means of
addressing and resolving the problems of development.
Application of technology
What do we mean by technology can be a question here. What I am
trying is not a definition but an interpretation. Normally we understand
technology as the use of tools or instruments for any human activity.
These human activities can be production, storage, exchange,
transportation or even consumption. We normally identify technology with
objects. This is not completely correct.
Technology does not fall from the skies. Of course technology can be
imported in the sense we can import tools and machines from other
countries. This is what we have been mostly doing in the past. But to
use them properly, there should also be people who know how to use them.
They should be trained as what SLIATE has been doing. In Sri Lanka’s
recent war against terrorism, for example, high-tech equipment and
instruments were used. They were largely imported. Perhaps the defeat of
terrorism was possible largely due to the use of high-level technology.
But it was primarily possible because the Sri Lankans were able to
master how to use them efficiently and expediently.
There were innovations in Sri Lanka itself. One example is the
designing and production of small combat naval crafts. They proved to be
efficient and effective in naval confrontations.
Whatever the development theory one is employing, neo-classical,
Marxist, neo-liberal, exogenous or endogenous, there is almost an
agreement that the level of development of a country is related to the
level of technological use. Jorg Mayer in 2002 did a study on
“globalization, technology transfer and skill accumulation in low-income
countries” and highly commended Sri Lanka after India as a country where
technology is increasingly used. He assessed the use of technology on
the basis of the importation of machinery and equipment. He gave
figures.
The figures thereafter also show that the value of imports of
machinery and equipment has almost doubled between 2003 and 2007. But
this is not completely satisfactory in terms of the future or full
development of the country. We should have our own Magga in terms of
technological development. This is what I wish to emphasize today.
Importance of the household
Both in the case of development in general and technology in
particular we need to understand the relationship from the primary unit
of our political economy and that is the household. We can do it both
metaphorically and in actual terms. Perhaps we need to pay more
attention to the household as an economic unit in all our efforts in
developing this country.
To be sure, the household is not only a consumption unit. It is a
savings unit and an investment unit. The household may belong to a
particular class or social strata.
Whatever the situation, it is as a result of the decisions of the
household that the country’s savings and investments are largely
determined.
In the case of the rural agricultural sector, the household is also a
production unit. While this might not be the case in other sectors,
there are production functions related to the household in general. That
is where the decisions are taken that determines a country’s future
labour force.
Whether a child would become a future teacher, technician, doctor,
engineer etc. are determined primarily within the household, of course
influenced by other exogenous factors. The household also is the primary
unit where technology is acquired, used and transmitted and create the
basis for macro level development of technology in a country.
This is one reason why we can argue that development is basically an
endogenous process.
Broadly speaking, technology is the application of innovation both in
terms of ideas and instruments for any type of human activity.
Technology is applicable not only to engineering or natural
science-based endeavors but also to social sciences. The Information
Technology (IT) has brought these fields - the natural sciences and
social sciences - much closer than ever. There are other fields or mixed
fields where the application of technology is relevant. What is behind
innovation is undoubtedly knowledge. This means that the development of
technology will depend on the development of knowledge.
Knowledge economy
It may be a slight exaggeration to say that all future economies will
be ‘knowledge economies,’ the way Paul Romer has said. But the emphasis
on the concept of ‘knowledge economy’ is fairly correct. Here we make
the emphasis on knowledge production and management in order that other
production sectors including agriculture are innovated and made
efficient.
By giving the knowledge a primary place we also create the
possibility of curtailing any technological development which can be
harmful for the environment, other species or the human species
themselves. The tendency to use nuclear energy for war purposes is an
example. Knowledge should be the guide for technological innovation as
well its proper control and management.
Coming back to my main theme of the household, this is where the
innovation or technology should begin. It is our experience that the
conditions of our households have considerably improved during the last
four decades or so.
To highlight some figures, 89 percent of the households now have
their own houses. Only 5.6 percent of the houses are still thatched and
79 percent have tile or asbestos roofs. While 78 percent of households
have radios; 71 percent of them also have television sets. Technology
use in the kitchen can be considered the main liberator of especially
the women. It appears, however, that Sri Lanka has a long way to go in
this direction.
While LP gas users are only 15 percent, 83 percent of the households
still uses firewood. On the positive side of the household conditions,
while 80 percent households have water seal toilets, 39 percent have
pipe borne water.
Metaphorically speaking kitchen is the epitome of the innovative
technological activity. Development does not merely mean that we produce
more. It means that we produce better. Our mothers know how to make
tastier food items even out of limited ingredients or resources.
This is the example that we should follow in development, the
mother’s or the housewife’s example. What is important is how you mix
the resources in order to get a better product.
This is what we call the recipe. Creating innovations or technologies
are like creating new recipes. The new recipes are necessary not only in
creating new food items - it is only a metaphor - but in all our
products from rice to tea and garments to automobiles.
Improving the human capital
The example of the household as well as the kitchen shows us that it
is basically the development of knowledge that could drive innovation,
technology and therefore the development. The knowledge cannot come
without. It should come within.
That is why those who understand the primary role of knowledge in
innovation, technology and development consider the development path
necessary for any country to be endogenous and not exogenous. This is
the reality. This is how the developed countries developed. This is how
the developing countries like Sri Lanka also could develop.
There are exogenous factors impinging on or relevant to development
but those are secondary or supportive.
There are times where those factors are more negative than positive.
In selecting exogenous factors necessary for development we also need to
select them from helpful sectors but not from hostile sectors whether it
is trade, aid, loan, technological transfer or any other matter.
The development of knowledge is one major task of higher education.
The Ministry of Higher Education, with its network of universities and
other institutions like SLIATE, is in charge of that task. Development
of knowledge is the contribution that higher education institutions like
SLIATE could make and making to the human capital.
The future of Sri Lanka would largely depend on how we develop the
country’s human capital with necessary knowledge, skills, motivation and
qualifications. This is the value of SLIATE and the value of the courses
that it has been conducting in order that the graduates from this
institution would creatively and innovatively contribute to the
country’s development. |