Search

With its infrastructural offer and emphasis on connectivity, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promises to support developing countries aiming to industrialise. The literature on industrialisation has identified a key role for infrastructure, markets and the state. This article looks at the case of Kyrgyzstan, one of the early members of the initiative, to understand the circumstances under which the BRI can facilitate manufacturing growth. Notwithstanding the presence of accessible markets and financial support for infrastructure, Kyrgyzstan has made limited headway in its industrialisation agenda. This can be attributed to the particular political economy of Kyrgyzstan, which predominantly relies on extracting rent from the mining and other sectors and consequently fails to allocate resources towards industrialisation. Though purportedly interested in revitalising the industrial sector, Kyrgyz politicians have primarily focused on extractive industries, hence impeding diversification and industrialisation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss the challenges and the opportunities faced by developing countries that want to join the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We first point out that the current discourse on 4IR is often based on poor understanding of the true nature of the phenomenon. Emphasising that many of the so-called 4IR technologies have been there and evolving rapidly in the last half a century, we argue that what defines 4IR is the fusion of these technologies. Given this, we argue, rather than trying to master particular 4IR technologies, developing countries should first focus on acquiring what we call the foundational capabilities, i.e. the capabilities to learn new technical and organisational solutions and apply them in creative and flexible ways. Using this perspective, we then discuss in great detail how different 4IR technologies are re-shaping each industry and creating new industries through technological fusion, while discussing how these changes are affecting the opportunities and challenges faced by developing countries for industrial development. We conclude the paper by discussing the implications of our findings for industrial policy in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that difficulties in negotiations on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) are rooted in the economic philosophy behind the design of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, which suffer from double standards and asymmetries, as well as their lack of appropriate implementation by developed countries. The main cause of the bias against developing countries is the conflict of ideology/interests and imbalances in the power relationship between developing and developed countries inherited from the Bretton Woods System (which were in fact at odds with the proposals originally made by Keynes). Highlighting inconsistencies between the objectives/spirit of the agreed text of the Doha Round on NAMA and subsequent proposals made by developed countries, the article suggests that the agreement on these proposals would limit the policy space of developing countries, as many of them would be locked in production and exportation of primary commodities or, at best, resource-based and assembly operations. The article concludes by suggesting a number of potential changes to WTO rules that would render them more conducive to industrialization and development of developing countries.Cet article s’attache à démontrer que les difficultés rencontrées lors des négociations sur l’AMNA trouvent leurs origines dans la philosophie économique particulière à partir de laquelle ont été conçues les règles du GATT/OMC. Celles-ci souffrent d’asymétries de type ‘deux poids deux mesures’, ainsi qu'une mise en œuvre inappropriée dans les pays développés. Les conflits d’intérêts et d’idéologies ainsi que les déséquilibres caractérisant les relations de pouvoir entre les pays en voie de développement et les pays développés sont les causes principales de la discrimination à l’égard des pays en voie de développement; discrimination qui s’est introduite dès l’instauration du Système de Bretton Woods, et ceci en contradiction avec les propositions originales de Keynes. L’article met en évidence les incohérences entre les objectifs et la philosophie des accords du Cycle de Doha concernant l’AMNA et les propositions faites par la suite par les pays développés, démontrant en particulier qu’adopter ces propositions réduirait l’espace politique des pays en voie de développement. Ceci aurait pour conséquence d’enfermer ces pays dans des activités manufacturières à base de ressources naturelles, ou même, au pire, dans la simple production et exportation de matières primaires. L’article conclut en proposant des modifications potentielles aux règles de l’OMC qui les rendraient plus à même promouvoir l'industrialisation et le développement dans les pays en voie de développement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the problems of underdeveloped countries in the mastery of scientific and technological knowledge for the production of goods and services in international trade. Significance of industrialization for development; Advantages of underdeveloped countries; Lessons on national development.

The relation of epidemiology and ethics is discussed from a Third World perspective, including the following issues: the structure and dynamics of a Third World Society; the nature of the relationship between the First World "islanders" in the Third World and their counterparts in the First World, and between the "islanders" and their fellow citizens; the inner dyamics of Third World researchers; the different knowledge systems; and the role of institutions in the Third World and the First World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on public policy involving science and technology. Science and technology policy, and the institutions that promulgate it, are a consequence of historical trends manifested in all industrial nations. The assumption is extended to developing nations as well--though at a somewhat different level of complexity--to explain and appraise the transfer of industrialization. The article examines critically these assumptions about the historical record, and investigates the corollary suggestion of the universality of the European and North American experience.

Introduces several articles on the technology and development of the industrial revolution in Third World countries. Central roles of the revolutionary character of technological changes; Workshop on the implications of a global technological revolution; Impact of technological change in the international dimensions of production.