How Technology is the Key to development

How Technology is the key to development in Africa,

By Ocean Marambanyika, University of Oslo, Norway.

Anyone who denies this will do so at their own peril. Technology is the single most important lever for development. There is no other thing that rivals the power of technology to empower and bring people out of poverty, hunger, desperation and the calamities in the developing worlds.  Why is it that those who dominate are continuing to dominate today? Is it not technology that makes them do so? If one group from the Americans and one from the Kenyans or one from Great Britain and one from Zimbabwe are asked to make a boxing or physical fight with bare hands, who will win?  If these groups are asked to fight with spears and arrows, who will win? If these groups are asked to run for a thousand kilometers on their legs, who will win? At the same time if we substitute the legs, the bare hands and the boxing court with drones, F16 fighter jets, the trident, submarines, cyber space, rockets and the concode, who will win the race? It is clear therefore that it is technological innovation that is the key to prosperity and development.

Is Technology more important than Climate and democracy?

Yes technological innovations are harmful to the environment. But not all of them are harmful to the climate. It is the duty of technology to make alternative energies which are environmental friendly. The total answer that lies in technology does not dismiss the significance of aspects like democracy and human rights. Democracy and human rights respect is a purely basic requirement in human survival. The need for democracy and human rights respect is the same as the natural right to life. To make that life enjoyable it is technology that is the key. It is technological innovation which brings prosperity and thereby strengthening the basis for democracy. When a nation enjoys prosperity, it has more to lose by ignoring democracy. Well of technologically developed nations fear war because it robes them of their middle class status and the comfort realized through technological innovations.  Examples from Europe, North America and most western nations are there to prove this. After World War II most nations in Europe realized the scourge of war and designed the United Nations system to specifically deal with that issue. The UN Charter clearly states that having experienced the scourge of war, the UN is therefore set up to promote international peace and security. The technological developments that have happened since then have been tremendous and they have been critical in preventing a major Third World War, at least thus far.

But Technology can also kill

That technology is deadly is undeniable. Future wars might be conducted from bedrooms and riverside beaches. Drones can just do the job. Whilst others will be managing drones from the comforts of their multi story buildings, others will be victims to such technologies. Such are the dangers of technological innovations. But can technology act as a deterrent to those who threaten real international security and order? That is a grand slam question to answer. Technology provides both opportunities- to destruct, deter and sometimes it can mercilessly annihilate. Can such dangers dismiss the significance of technology in development? Definitely not. That is where democracy comes in. The liberal theorists postulate that democracies of the same kind will not fight each other. It means therefore that if all nations become democracies, then technological innovations will not be a threat to anyone. What is democracy and to whom, one might ask. All those who joined the UN and signed its international instruments on human rights have an obligation to respect what they signed. If all nations respect their obligations under international laws, then there will be no debate on what democracy is in reality. Implementing the UN led international laws is enough to fulfill practical requirements for democracy and thereby closing theoretical arguments about what democracy is.

Technology and the future for Africa

Make no mistake. It is technology and technology only that can lift regions like Africa from the challenges of development. Huge resources in Africa cannot be extracted without embracing and courting technological knowhow from those who have it. In addition to importing technology, African nations need also to be innovative and invent technological requirements that fit their situations. Most countries in Africa sleep and play on top of vast natural resources that can instantly transform their lives from poverty to prosperity. Why do they sit and sleep on top of resources? It is because they lack technological capabilities to detect and extract those resources. Why can Africa not become a global superpower? It is because it does not have the technology to make advanced submarines, drones, super jumbos and air to surface missiles that act as deterrents. Technology is therefore the king.

Mark this!

 If all developing nations get this right and make efforts to invest in technological innovations, then they are totally assured that future generations will have a life to live. Future generations will credit the current generations for what they will enjoy. Failure to invest in technology is a disservice to children of the future.

By Ocean Marambanyika

Expert on Peace, History, Development and Conflict Studies

University of Oslo (Graduate), Norway