Technological Capability in the Third World: An Overview and Introduction to some of the Issues raised in this Book

The aim of this paper is to provide an introduction to some of the issues that are raised by the various contributors to this book. As will be seen, there are a number of important differences between contributors with regard to the perspective that is brought to bear on the study of technological change in the Third World and, correspondingly, the policy implications that follow. While it is clearly not possible to raise here all of the important issues discussed in these contributions, some areas where the differences regarding perspective and policy have been notable have been selected for comment. These are: new approaches to Third World technology in historical perspective; the conceptualisation of technological change and technological capability in the Third World; the political economy of technological change; international trade and technological capability; the world technology frontier; and the capital goods sector. It need hardly be added that this chapter is no substitute for a thorough reading of the rich accounts given in the other contributions to this book.