Essay Example on Technological Diffusion: Key Component of Technological Advancement

Technological diffusion, where materials, tool and ideas are transferred from one place to another, is a key to facilitating technological advancements. As such, Volti (2005) argued that even though indigenous expertise and accomplishments are integral components of technological advancement, only a few technologically advanced nations can claim to have succeeded without input from other nations. The transfer of technology mainly occurs when companies from economic powers establish manufacturing plants in developing nations. Nonetheless, this transfer has not always been smooth, a case in point is the resistance by the Hupacasath First Nation in Canada, where they sued the Canadian Federal Government for a signing an investment promotion and protection pact with China that would grant Chinese companies control over the natives' resources (Palframan, 2014). With that in mind, this essay explores the issues that may inhibit the diffusion of technological tools and ideas among aboriginal communities in Canada based on the concept of appropriate technology.

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Going back in history, the country that first experienced remarkable technological developments was China. Volti (2005) purported that by the 16th century, Chinese engineers had already invented the differential gear, the spinning wheel, an arch bridge among other inventions. However, by the 18th century, Europe had already outdone China in regards to technological advancement. Europe's tremendous technological growth was realized when European countries adopted some Chinese innovations such as gunpowder and paper to spur an economic revolution. While Europe prospered economically due to its dynamism in embracing technologies from other countries, China was less receptive to foreign innovations, which explains why China's leading position in technological development was dissipated after a short time.

The above example demonstrates the significance of technological diffusion from developed countries in the technological growth of less developed countries. However, Volti (2005) stated that the deduced effect of technological diffusion cannot automatically apply in present times since countries that are currently getting foreign technologies are different from those in the past centuries. For instance, the US and Japan, which were among the beneficiaries of technology transfer in the 19th century, were richer in human capital and resources than the current third world countries (Volti, 2005). As such, poorer countries are currently likely to face more challenges than the 19th-century beneficiaries of technology transfer when adopting technologies designed for first world countries.

To bring this issue into perspective, Volti (2005) stipulated that most of the modern technologies created by developed countries aim at saving labor, which is perceived to be a threat to the existing labor force in developing nations. As such, these technologies are likely to be resisted by native communities when transferred to their countries. For instance, the Luddites in the 19th century England protested violently against the introduction of new machinery in the textile industry that would render most of the poorly paid employees redundant. Their discontentment made them smash and destroy these machines. In another scenario, Chinese working in silk factories in the 19th century used labor-intensive means to unwind silkworm shells. However, they resisted a move by the British Jardine Matheson Trading Company in 1859 to introduce a steam-powered machine to unwind the shells (Volti, 2005). Their resistance was because most of the employees would become jobless since skilled labor was needed to operate these machines.

In this regard, Volti (2005) advanced the concept of appropriate technology, where he maintained that developing countries need technologies that befit the conditions in their environment rather than the conventional technology transfers that were witnessed in the earlier centuries. These technologies aim at increasing job opportunities, curb the skewed distribution of resources, enhance production and empower countries economically. However, their application and development are challenging since, for example, adopting labor-intensive technologies does not necessarily guarantee an increase in job opportunities. Additionally, a winners and losers situation may ensue, where the benefits of increased employment are offset by high costs of labor, lower proceeds and high commodity prices.

The above concept of appropriate technology can be contextualized in the case of native groups in Northern Canada, who have cultural considerations and existing socio-economic conditions that are likely to thwart technological diffusion. Any company planning to extract resources from the natives' land has to consider these two issues for the plans to succeed. The economic potential of new industries in the oil and mining sectors appeal the poor and jobless Metis and Inuit communities and the First Nations but threaten their normal way of life and environment (National Aboriginal Health Organization [NAHO], 2008).

The culture of the Northern Inuit people champions for the respect and sustainable utilization of environmental resources. As such, foreign companies intending to use the resources of these people should consider their sustainability. However, NAHO (2008) stated that activities such as mining are likely to undermine sustainability since they utilize land only temporarily but result in deleterious environmental effects that can affect future generations of the indigenous communities. Therefore, mining projects are likely to face opposition from the Inuit people due to this cultural consideration on land and environment, which ultimately derails the transfer of mining technologies to these people. This impediment can be understood better when looked into with regards to the objectives of appropriate technologies.

Volti (2005) stated that one of the objectives of appropriate technology is to conserve the environment even as companies implementing new technologies strive for profitability. While the First Nations and Northern indigenous communities may benefit economically from the mining of gas and oil, their health and environmental safety are jeopardized by the mining industries. Therefore, the aboriginals are likely to resist the mining and oil extraction technologies, irrespective of the economic and knowledge benefits that they may get from these technologies since their culture prohibits the involvement in any unsustainable activity.

Similarly, the Northern Dual Economy may also impede technological diffusion. NAHO (2008) stated that this economy comprises of the traditional economists who depend on hunting and gathering to provide food and uphold cultural ideals such as sharing, and wage workers who believe that working in industries is vital for them to earn wages and purchase tools needed for hunting. However, the wage workers are unlikely to share their earnings with their friends or support native businesses to grow. Ultimately, these wage workers dent the locals' wellbeing and health. For this reason, conflicts are likely to occur in this dual economy where some people may support the wage economy that brings new technologies while others may reject it.

For instance, NAHO (2008) mentioned the Inuvialuit, Gwichin and Sahtu Dene as some of the natives who supported the Mackenzie Valley gas extraction project, whereas the Dene Tha and Deh Cho opposed it. The involvement of these aboriginal communities in separate agreements will possibly degenerate into mistrust and unhealthy competition among the natives, which will derail technological diffusion to all communities. When they compete, the economic power will be skewed towards the wage workers.

Besides, in the concept of appropriate technology, (Volti, 2005) stated that technologies may not be applied sometimes based on economic considerations but socio-economic conditions. As such, first-class individuals in a society are considered in plans to provide sophisticated technologies, while lower-status individuals are excluded. The transfer of technology on this basis is likely to face serious challenges due to the winners and losers situation that it causes. Considering the wage workers to be first-class individuals in the Northern Dual Economy, NAHO (2008) argued that the continued work cycles for the wage-workers weaken their family relations and reduce opportunities for them to provide foods for the family. Similarly, the workers' earnings may, on one hand, improve the efficiency of harvesting when used to purchase farm tools. On the contrary, the ensuing high demand for farm tools and inflow of money will possibly increase the cost of these tools. Ultimately, the diffusion of harvesting technologies is impeded since those natives who are not making money will not be able to buy or improve their harvesting equipment.

This essay has assessed the issues that may derail the diffusion of technological tools and ideas among aboriginal communities in Canada based on the concept of appropriate technology. One of the impediments is cultural consideration on land and environmental use, whereby the Northern Inuit people champion for the respect and sustainable utilization of environmental resources. These people are likely to resist activities such as oil and gas extraction since it undermines sustainability. As such, the mining technologies used will not be transferred to the aboriginals since they contradict the objective of environmental conservation, as stated in the concept of appropriate technologies. The other impediment is the dual economy that is likely to result in a winners and losers situation, whereby even though wage workers can purchase harvesting tools through their income, an influx of money in the economy will increase the demand and prices of these tools, which ultimately makes it difficult for those earning less income to buy or upgrade their harvesting tools.

References

National Aboriginal Health Organization. (2008). Resource Extraction and Aboriginal Communities in Northern Canada: Gender Considerations.

Palframan, A. (2014). First Nations resist fuel and mining developments to protect us all. Retrieved from https://rabble.ca/news/2014/01/first-nations-resist-fuel-and-mining-developments-to-protect-us-all

Volti, R. (2005). Society and technological change. Macmillan.