In the 1960s, ‘development’ strategies emphasised economic growth targets and technical ‘fixes’. Though some countries had achieved target growth rates over that decade, by 1970 there was an acknowledgement that problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger and health had not eased as a result, and so the emphasis shifted toward interest in distribution and equity.
United Nations Second Development Decade
‘Technological Dependence, Monopoly and Growth’ by Merhav
Merhav suggests that developing countries are not likely to repeat the same process of development that the developed countries have done, with regards to industrialisation and growth, and warns against ‘techological dependence’. He also argues that transnational corporate control of technology is a key factor in binding developing economies to an “open economy” policy in the international system.
Bellagio Conference on international agricultural research
At the Bellagio conference, directors of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations met to discuss addressing world food needs, agreeing to do this through the development of specialised International Agricultural Research Centres, which eventually evolved into the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research network connected to the World Bank. These centres were instrumental in pushing forward the ‘Green Revolution’ and set up a model of science and technology production at ‘centres of excellence’. (Hardin, 2008)
UNCTAD-II, New Delhi
This second UNCTAD conference addressed three main topics, all of which required negotiations and resulted in significant confrontation between the G77 and Group B. These included attempts to agree details of a generalised system of trade preferences, discussions on technology transfer and the situation of the Least Developed Countries which followed into UNCTAD III. UNCTAD II was considered a failure by some, but hope remained for a generalised system of trade preferences as one of the outcomes of the conference. (Bell, 1973)
Dudley Seers ‘The Meaning of Development’
Dudley Seers, first Director of IDS, argued that “the focus on national income as a target for achieving poverty reduction avoided the real problems of development” and recommended “redefining how development was measured”.
Intermediate Technology Development Group (now Practical Action) formed
The Intermediate Technology Development Group (now called Practical Action) was founded in 1966 by Fritz Schumacher and a few of his close associates to promote the use of ‘appropriate’ efficient labour-intensive technologies in rural areas.
Institute of Development Studies founded at University of Sussex campus
IDS was founded in 1966 as a ‘special institution’, Britain’s first national institute of development studies. Among many areas in which IDS made pioneering contributions are its work in research…
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) established at University of Sussex
SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, later to be called the Science and Technology Policy Unit, is established at University of Sussex campus
Book: Spaceship Earth by Barbara Ward
Ward, Barbara (1966) Spaceship Earth, Columbia University Press.
Concept of ‘Intermediate Technology’ introduced
Concept of ‘Intermediate Technology’ introduced by philosopher/economist Fritz Schumacher