Technology and Corruption: The Missing and Morbid Links of Development in Africa

By Austin Aneke

Africa is today missing in the technology radar of the world, but very visible in the corruption index. This represents a clear road map to perpetual underdevelopment, subjugation, and perdition.

While no country or continent has ever developed without recreating industrial revolution in its own way, African countries, by omission or commission are attempting to develop by embracing corruption and ignoring the revolutionary powers of science and technology. Africa cannot develop without their own well developed science and technology, and cannot develop with the level of corruption in the continent as we know it today.

While western nations continue to advise African leaders to stop stealing the AID they send to them, they have never and will never advise them to embrace technology in order to create their own wealth.

The author has done a great deal of work exposing the ills of African leaders and their western collaborators which brought Africa to her pitiable state of underdevelopment. Until corruption is greatly minimised in the continent and science and technology embraced; Africa will never achieve sustainable development.

No one can do it for Africa except Africans themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Feb 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781467883788

Book preview

PART I

1

Development

Development is a process, involving some programming and/or venturing in activities involving risk taking, by people of a particular country, place or territory who also exploit most resources (human and material) available, producing goods and services for the satisfaction of their needs according to efforts/inputs and needs.

Drawing from the above, we can say that Development: a) Is a process. It is a stage by stage attempt to improve the standard of living of man. b) Is a programme of activities and/or unplanned business venturing and risk taking. c) Involves people living in a definite area. It is about people. It is about human beings living in a definite territory. This is however debatable in this era of globalisation. In other words development strategies should aim at serving humanity on a large scale. d) Is about exploitation of resources (human and material). This is a very crucial aspect of the development process. A people can sit on the best and most lucrative of natural resources without any coherent plans about how to tap the resources. Think about a nation sitting on petroleum, gold or diamond, and the best of talents without knowing the value of either resources or means of exploiting them for the benefit of all. If this happens, man will be living in poverty in the midst of potential plenty. Though wealth and needs are, and could be culturally defined, international trade and deals neutralise such barriers and facilitates the satisfaction of real needs across borders. International needs and demands, therefore, create values and wealth in local economies. e) For the satisfaction of their wants according to efforts, inputs, and needs. In order words development should be man-centered. It should not be development for the sake of it or for the satisfaction of the needs of a few.

Consequently we can say that Development involves INNOVATIVE IDEAS, PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION of goods and services. Most parts of the analysis in this book are hinged on the interplay between these parts of the development process.

Development Strategies

This book is aimed to be as practical and relevant as possible, but I wish to analyse some past and/or existing development theories that have/had shaped development strategies. The world had witnessed the propagations of the modernisation theories rooted in western capitalism and imperialism. Their arguments were that: a) Colonial and neo-colonial imperialism brought development to Africa, and other developing countries. b) Capital flow from developed to developing countries are for the benefit of these nations. c) It is the innovative personality that propels growth, and there are more innovative personalities in western societies. d) Societies that are achievement oriented, universalistic, specific, and affectivity neutral tend to develop as against those that are particularistic, ascription infused, diffuse, and condones affectivity and collective attitudes. e) Nations with N achievement (McClelland) will likely produce more entrepreneurs, who in turn, produce more economic growth.

The popular and general critique of this argument is that it ignores, and does not take into account, a global system where affluent, powerful, and imperialist nations dominate. This work argues that the idea that colonial and neo-colonial imperialism brought development to Africa is patronising and sets aside the fact that there is a common key to development which every nation could use to improve their well being. Secondly, this book asks—Why should Capital, flow to developing countries? How did developed/western nations generate their own capital? Could developing countries generate their own capital too? Are there not innovative personalities in every society? No nation or people have a monopoly of innovative personalities. If civilization started in Africa, then it means that Africa is full of innovative personalities, but most African nations are underdeveloped today. Moreover, all variables or indicators as described in points D and E above are also found in all societies today, both developed, developing, or underdeveloped nations. It has been found that many people in developed countries are superstitious, and embrace nature and astrology.

On the other hand, the Dependency theories/models are anchored in Conflict philosophy and developed mostly by radicals of developing countries. They argue that Dependency is a situation in which a certain group of countries have their economy conditioned by the development and expansion of another economy. They argue that developing countries can develop under a conditioned situation, only as a reflection and expansion of the developed countries. This model goes further to indicate that the dominant countries have a technological, commercial, capital and socio-economic pre-dominance over the dependent countries. This permits and gives them the impetus to impose conditions of exploitation on part of the domestically produced surplus. They argue that both the internal and foreign collaborators benefit from the dependency system; consequently, the system thrives.

2

Scientific Consciousness

and the Tool of Technology

So development involves production of goods and services. But how does man produce goods and services. Effective and efficient production of goods and services would entail some perfect instrumentation. But perfect instruments and equipments are only possible if the right attitudes are in place. How do people relate and perceive the environment they live in on a daily basis. Is it like the German Octopus—superstitiously attempting to predict future events, or like an average scientific inventor attempting to copy Faraday?

First and foremost, I wish to state that scientific knowledge extricates man from the grasps and grope of nature’s bondage. Though a universal phenomenon, some people apply theirs to unimaginable fruition while others wallow in deluded and superficial existence that reflects the most minimal of their potential and ability. This in the long run results in regression, very limited choices and poverty. It is self-inflicted subjugation which plays into the hands of those nations that turn scientific knowledge into beneficial values. The non utilisation of this crankshaft of development is prevalent where some greedy and lousy elements lead a people. They lack the zeal and orientation to help the real cream of society to make the final push. This stems from the aggrandisement of the fake life they live that lacks substructure. Consequently, they effectively drag everyone back to nature’s bondage only noticeable when a nation is tested for its real worth. The results of such tests are always an empty barrel or, at best, some crude deposit of rough diamonds.

Scientific Consciousness

I first engaged with idea of scientific consciousness in an elective course during the later years of my studies in University. It was a welcome alternative to the powerful Dependency ideas being spilled into my consciousness at the same period. I was particularly excited when the tutor introduced the idea to us especially when he rhetorically asked whether Africans were fundamentally underdeveloped. It was a line of questioning that was completely at variant from the line of inquiry and answers we were familiar with. Any idea of fundamental underdevelopment would make nonsense of all imperialistic, colonial, and neo-colonial linked answers to the problem of Africa’s underdevelopment. It was like—why were you the one so weak to be enslaved, colonised and neo-colonised?

I would not agree, however, to this idea of fundamental underdevelopment unless it is the same thing as lack of will on the part of those in charge to make the final important push. Scientific consciousness refers to the idea of conditioning people to always attempt to approach and explain their every day events in a systematic way. This is very vital and fundamental to having breakthroughs necessary to societal development. I believe this should be a universal thing rather than inclinations associated with a particular part of the world.

The idea of scientific awareness is gaining prominence. In an international meeting on the matter in Delhi, in 2008 named Mapping the Scientific Consciousness, National and Global Efforts, convened by Gauher Raza, and jointly organised by National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) New Delhi, and National Council of Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC); the issue of scientific consciousness was once more assessed. On this occasion the emphasis was on the role and usage of statistical tools to measure the perception, acceptance, and appreciation of science by the lay people of different parts of the world, including people from Africa (Mishra, 2008).

The key words and phrases here are perception, acceptance, and appreciation of science by the lay people. The key questions then include—Do people of certain parts of the world perceive, accept, and appreciate science more than others? If yes, why? Are regions or countries where there are greater acceptance and appreciation of science more developed than places where there are lower prevalence of such indicators? I tried to answer these questions in this book. It is also an attempt to discover where lay the scientific spirit in some developing countries especially Africa. This is the point. Consequently, I have included below, a six stage process which I shall constantly refer to in my subsequent analysis.

Stage one.

The assumption in this book is that all human beings of every nation and/or race have basic intelligence which they can apply to solve or survive on a day by day basis. This basic but superior intelligence of modern Homo sapiens differentiates them from all other animals. This attribute of man is applied instinctively and without effort, especially, when the tasks involved become something of a routine. Nevertheless you could hear your friend mocking you sometimes saying—Think. You do not think or you act before you think. Modern man is expected to think before he acts. It could be a long thinking or thoughts that guide your every day life.

Stage Two.

Basic intelligence begins to make more sense when it is turned into ideas. When intelligence is being applied towards solving a particular problem, it becomes an idea. An Idea is ‘a thought or suggestion about a possible course of action’. When intelligence begins to take form or pattern, it becomes an idea. Most ideas emanate from experience, and involves some little or huge effort on the part of the individual or group. However some ideas prop up instinctively. Wow, I have an idea about how to retrieve this coin from the hole. Ideas surface in both micro and macro environments and situations. It is the extent of the perceived problems that conditions human ideas.

Stage Three.

This is the stage when ideas begin to be organised and impacted in a formal and systematic way. This is when ideas begin to turn into skills and vital information. You could gain knowledge working in your father’s workshop or attending a formal educational institution. Knowledge is power, and individuals at this stage need to apply a lot of efforts and dedication at this stage. It takes time and efforts to be knowledgeable. Most nations all over the world make efforts to educate their people, though some nations make more efforts. Knowledge enhances and determines man’s chances of success in life.

Stage Four.

This is same as stage three, but the emphasis now is on scientific knowledge. Emphasis now is on knowledge that enhances or makes technology possible. Scientific knowledge implies knowledge based on testable and verifiable assumptions. For a piece of knowledge to be termed scientific, it must be based on empirical, observable, and measurable evidence. Scientific knowledge must also be systematic and precise. This is the knowledge that helps man to create value. This is the stage when knowledge is used to transform and improve life in a systematic way. This stage of the route to technology is still academic, and many nations and individuals are still performing creditably well here. Nations have their researchers at work in universities and other agencies, ministries, departments or institutes. This stage is always the last buck for most nations struggling to develop or be called developed. It is the stage when boys begin to turn into men, and girls, women. Any nation that successfully moves to the next stage is on track to acquiring technology, becoming powerful, and being referred to as developed. Most nations that do not transcend this stage are always less powerful, less influential, and are not referred as developed. Most Nations in the Southern Hemisphere stop