Science and Technology in Latin America
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
A VIEW FROM LATIN AMERICA
Figueroa Silvana Andrea Delgado (Mexico)
PRESENTATION
In October 2008 the Congress was "Science, technology and culture. Dialogue between disciplines. Looking to the future of Latin America and the Caribbean" at the University of Santiago de Chile, which was the result of an initiative that sought to establish a space for interaction between different disciplines and working groups in which not only present and discuss the progress of its investigations, but also generate coordination among participants, defined as agents of knowledge - to achieve better impact on public policy in the region. For four days, hundreds of participants from 25 countries gathered under that notice, obtaining a range of outcomes, within which are the establishment of academic networks and the diffusion and dissemination of ponencias1.
As part of this event took place the working group "Science and Technology for Development" which was thought as central to science and technology, in terms of their importance in processes development, the role of the State in their promotion and the need to rethink from the contemporary social problems of our countries. The point raised was the consideration of technological backwardness in Latin America and the Caribbean and the need to revise the beaten path; recognizing that the conduct of scientific research and technological developments have been substantial for countries to generate high production capacity and achieve higher incomes and standards of living of its population.
bench in the Ten papers were presented, which allowed deeper into the themes. Questioned the relationship between science-technology-development from different angles, as well as public policies implemented in the countries of the region, and reflected on how the training of foreign human resources and international cooperation affect the uncritical acceptance of the research agendas of developed countries, the migration of scientists and technologists (brain drain), the lack of government policies and funding, the epistemological foundations of scientific knowledge and colonial knowledge. Also analyzed the systems of science and technology in various countries-Mexico, Chile, Peru , Argentina, Germany, United States, "emphasizing the lack of integration of each component in the Latin American case, and therefore questioning the very existence of a system. In this process, they identified some novel experiences, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela, contributing elements for the construction of a new relationship between science, technology and society.
In order to disseminate some of the discussions referred to, it was decided to publish this book, which includes a selection of papers, which have been grouped into three main themes: Science, Technology and Development, Science and Technology Policy Education and scientific and technological training. In the first paragraph are incorporated three items that have the central axis of problematization, addressed by different perspectives, the relationship is established between science, technology and development. Silvana Figueroa says in Latin America has lacked the positive attitude of the central actor in promoting development, from technology creation, so that in the process of accumulation in the region has remained underdeveloped in the pole because of the absence of a state project that addresses the appropriation of progress. Through historical analysis of the experiences of England and Germany, the author demonstrates, in the first case, the active role of the state to promote the industrial revolution, protecting productive knowledge and learning that were generated and allowed the consolidation of industrial capital . In the German experience underlines the interventionist and protective attitude of the State including direct involvement in agricultural technology generation. The author concludes by submitting a progress review resulting from the process of import substitution in Latin America and the subsequent acceptance of the neoliberal model, with a strong limitation on the State to act in science and technology, the region condemned to underdevelopment and dependency.
For his part, Luis Manuel Lara considers it necessary to reassess the scientific and technological knowledge, sizing creative expression and criticism at the same time aims to transcend what he calls the idea of \u200b\u200bone-dimensional development. The author discusses that in versions official science-technology relationship, the economic development predominates to the detriment of the biological, social, cultural and spirit. He notes that this vision vanishes, kidnaps, the potential of science and technology to bear on the development, the mechanism by which this is achieved is the subordination castration daily, from public policy, all the economic dimensions For example, education refers to training for working life. The final proposal suggests turning to the construction of a multidimensional view of development, to recover the natural and cultural diversity, together with the potentiality of thought scientific and technological.
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Close Germain Sanchez's article, which it reviews the different interpretations of the relationship between science-technology-development in the Latin American context. Historically reconstructing the development of modernity and the role of science and technology in capitalist society, there is a proposal of periodization of the evolution of ideas about science, technology policy and productive structures of the region, stopping in the neoliberal pattern analysis, which strengthens the utility of science functionalism. The author shows how This functionalism is implemented in Latin America, through the policies promoted by the advanced capitalist countries and international management institutions, however, there is also the emergence of critical perspectives that contradict the dominant view, the views expressed in dispute on changes in social systems and scientific and technological research, and although the dominant neoliberal, the involvement of other actors is essential to determine new directions in the relationship between science-technology-development.
The second section comprises three articles that address issues public policies in science and technology. After locating the ambivalent relationship of the peripheral countries around the scientific and technological developments, such as an engine for development and as an element that deepens their condition peripherally, Alejandra Vidal discusses the basics of various positions on public policy and contrasts with the urgent needs for countries in Latin America. Recognizes that it is essential to increase investment in science and technology, but goes further to emphasize the urgent definition of strategic lines linking the continent with a model of development. In this perspective, the author argues for policies that constitute a pattern cooperative in the region, while a broadening of efforts that can be done and achieved more efficiently address the structural dependence.
Then, Leonel Álvarez highlights the existence of an intrinsic relationship between state, science and democracy, that to the extent that science affects development. The ability of the state to build consensus is essential to achieve this impact. The exercise of patronage practices, heritage and biased (party), prevented the formation of a consensus agenda and further properly weigh scientific and technological activity. The author advocates the development of science and technology policies inclusive, in which the different actors to express their interests, being essential to consider the reconstitution of the capital-labor ratio, which in Latin America has been based on the exploitation of the immediate work This situation has hindered the organization of scientific work to produce progress. The author concludes by proposing the planning of science in a democratic, legitimate social and political relevance at the same time trying to establish a state and a democracy to science. For its part, Oregonian and analyzes policies Piñero cooperation in science and technology in Argentina, noting the welfare character has had throughout the postwar period. Through literature review, found that although there have been changes in recent years, has continued the development of local agendas based on the cooperation is guided by the perspectives of developed countries, in particular addresses the case of European Union. It is recognized that the relations arising in the current phase of globalization have changed the terms of cooperation, giving more space to local, while on the other hand, the new division of labor leads to concentration power and capacity in the production of knowledge. In the case of Argentina, it appears that is cooperation from the offer made by developed countries, where the state is displaced as a key player and there are new private actors, including corporations and civil society organizations . Thus, the authors argue, local agendas are constructed, in which there is an absence of a national project to incorporate, effective and real, the interests of different actors in the country and Latin America.
Finally, Section Education and scientific and technological training begins with an article by Nemesio Espinoza, which examines the status of graduate studies at universities in Peru and its relationship to scientific knowledge production and innovation. The author starts by considering that universities are institutions that, in essence, have the task of producing and disseminating science, technology and innovation, so it is essential to perform research activities within them, with the graduate school programs with this responsibility. However, the analysis of the Peruvian universities shows that these institutions are professionalizing, receiving and transmitting of science and technology generated externally. He concludes that such universities are not only not fulfilling their role but also its graduate programs are highly commodified and subject to the logic of demand and obtain resources, it raises the urgent restructuring of the university system in general and in particular graduate programs.
This third section is closed with the text of Carames and Maria Gabriela Mota Sarita which studies the formation of workers as an embodiment of science and technology concerns that were under the government of President Getulio Vargas in Brazil. Throughout the paper a detailed account of the construction of a proposed development and the role played by technology, which at that time was specific on the concern for training cadres to improve the production system as a whole, was regarded science as an activity that should be linked to productive activity in the service of economic and social development. The authors show how the presidential administration Vargas materialize these ideas through an enhancement of technical knowledge, creating institutions and organizations that promote, emphasize the training of workers and the way it links the country's development with qualification and rationalization of work. As you can see the reader, set of articles in this book reflect analytical problems and perspectives very different and in some topics may be placed positions. The element shared by all, is the critical analysis of the role of science and technology in development. In this way, we hope that the articles contribute to the debates that are currently present in our Latin America, which lay at its center the revaluation of development.
eBook: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT, A VIEW FROM LATIN AMERICA (Various authors)
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