Politics of technology transfer (with special reference to the transfer of nuclear technology)

Abstract

The object of this paper is to present a critical analysis of the issues associated with the transfer of technology in general, and nuclear technology in particular, from a socio-political perspective. As such, it somewhat differs, both in content and approach, from other presentations of this conference. Nevertheless, it is my strong belief that an analysis of this nature is not only appropriate, but is significant for every nation that aspires to a sizeable transfer of technology, notably nuclear technology. 1 1 Technology, and the resulting technological diffusion, have been conceptualized in varying forms using different theoretical and historical approaches. The crudest approach defines technology as involving only changes in artifacts. The economic approach, being more sophisticated, adds labor and managerial inputs to the physical artifacts. This approach is susceptible to aggregate analysis, and economists and historians have made wide use of it. A third approach views technology as a ‘socio-cultural’ phenomenon, that is, besides involving material and artifact improvements, technology is considered to incorporate a cultural, social and psychic dimension as well. The definition utilized here is complementary to the third approach, in the sense that it adds relevant political attributes, as a significant denominator, to it.