The Open University
Yorkshire Region

Cultural Studies Research Forum
Reports and Abstracts 1995 -2000

introduction | contents

The ways in which the processes of technological change in third world countries, both influence and are influenced by, local cultural practices. The issues this raises for development.

Gordon Wilson

This talk focused on technology as a cultural product with particular reference to developing country contexts, examining technology as an interplay of both 'hardware' (machines) and 'software' (people and their knowledge). It explored critically a prevalent view that relates technology to modernisation in developing countries and which can be traced back to western ideas that stem from the renaissance, namely a protestant work ethic. As such, the prevalent view represents a transfer of culture from developed to developing countries that takes place alongside technology transfer, which is not always appropriate for local technological development. This is not to argue for a cultural determinism and acceptance of cultural relativism, but to note that technology is embedded in cultural contexts that have to be taken into account in development aid. If not, ways of knowledge acquisition and hence technological developments are likely to be inhibited.