THE TECHNOLOGICAL MYSTIQUE AND THIRD WORLD OPTIONS
In: Monthly review: an independent socialist magazine, Band 38, Heft 3, S. 98-109
ISSN: 0027-0520
THIS PAPER EXAMINES HOW SOCIALIST COUNTRIES HAVE GOT INTO TROUBLE BY EXERCISING NEW IDEOLOGICAL OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT CREATED BY SCIENCE, WHICH NONETHELESS EMANATED FROM THE OLD OPPRESSORS. NEW GOVERNMENTS ACCEPT THE MYSTIFIED WORLD OF A NECESSARILY TECHNICAL PROGRESS. THE COST OF THIS ATTUDE HAS BEEN ENORMOUS, BOTH IN MONETARY TERMS AND IN TERMS OF THE CAPACITY FOR SELF-RELIANCE. TWO EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN TO ILLUSTRATE TECHNOLOGICAL MYSTIFICATION AND THE FALLACY OF TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS AS SUBSTITUTES FOR POPULAR INVOLVEMENT AND CONTROL. EXAMPLES OF ANGOLA AND GUINEA ARE PROVIDED.