Subverting, disenchanting and rationalizing STI systems for revealing modernity in Africa
| Published date | 01 August 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425945201000014 |
| Date | 01 August 2010 |
| Pages | 221-241 |
| Author | Jacques L. Hamel |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
World Journal of Science, Technology & Sustainable Development, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2010
221
Copyright © 2010 WASD
Abstract: The paper provides a speculative reflection on the power of modern
science, technology and innovation systems (STI) for revealing some distinctive
style of modernity in Africa. The modernization of these systems, as the backbones
of any mode of modernity, also requires the modernization of our mental or
intellectual costumes. This process is essentially the passage from closed, self-
confirming, faith-based, customary, totalizing or terrorizing knowledge systems
to essentially falsifiable, evidence-based, scientifically-established and technically-
proven innovative knowledge systems. In these systems scientific knowledge can
be construed as a theory of the real and as a technology of truth and understood as
the epistemological foundation of any form of Afro-modernity. It is also the passage
from the ‘Book of Scripture’ to the ‘Book of Nature’ or from the submission to the
white man’s colonizing gods to the more authentic and genuine African identities,
beliefs and values, such as those embodied in the concept of ubuntu. The paper
discusses a possible way forward in terms of capacity development in STI in Africa
with an emphasis on some observed weaknesses regarding fundamental long term
neglected issues. It provides some ideas for filling gaps in the context of the call by
a number of African thinkers, including the Executive Secretary of UNECA, for
initiating a ‘scientific revolution’ on the African continent.
Keywords: Africa, innovation, innovation systems, STI, capacities, science, technology,
knowledge, modernity, MDGs
Jacques L. Hamel1
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia
SUBVERTING, DISENCHANTING AND
RATIONALIZING STI SYSTEMS FOR
REVEALING MODERNITY IN AFRICA
INTRODUCTION
In spite of a series of new initiatives and re-
newed political will the way forward in capac-
ity development in STI in Africa remains a
major challenge. This paper discusses some
of these challenges and outlines promis-
ing and achievable policy orientations that
could bring about more rapid and para-
digmatic change. This paradigmatic shift
should be toward modern or scientific ways
of knowing and understanding. This re-
quires championing the scientific method,
the rule of technique and innovation as well
as promoting decisive scientific arbitrations,
increased technical mediations and a redefi-
nition of STI’s relationships with religious,
cultural, social and economic life.
For this shift to occur there is a need
to better appreciate modern science as a
method of both calculative and subversive
1 Scientific Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), P. O. Box 3005,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tel: 251 911 645933, Email: jachamel@gmail.com
222 Jacques L. Hamel
thinking, as a means of achieving the system-
atic renovation of conventional/medieval/
pre-modern realities and as a way to recon-
struct and re-order African realities from
fresh fundamentals and from the latest sci-
entific insights. This may require strengthen-
ing various capacities to probe, undermine
and rationalize oppressive systems (religious,
cultural, social, economic, political). It may
also require re-cosmologizing, re-mythologiz-
ing, ‘re-prophetizing’, re-charlatanizing and
re-directing the evolution of the African real-
ity toward a region free of wishful thinking,
fallacies, lies, superstitions, prejudices, magic
and witchcraft and toward an Islam-free and
Christian-free scientifically-informed free-
thinking innovative post-colony.
In this perspective rejuvenating knowl-
edge systems and purging Abrahamic and
Shamanic worldviews of non-scientific con-
stituents can open a path from the mostly
totemic, enchanted, mystified, supernatural,
patriarchal/phallocratic and over-religious
worldviews and mindsets of pre-modern
Africa to the more desacralized, secular, ra-
tional, liberal, enlightened and autonomous
worldviews and mindsets of modernity.
Whatever theories of knowledge (Audi,
1998), of science (Kuhn, 1962), of innovation
(Muchie, 2003a), of development (Preston,
1996) and of modernity (Heller, 1999) one
embraces, the essence of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be met
and there is no access to an Afro-modernity
of any kind without the rigorous exploita-
tion and use of modern science, technology
and innovation. Effective STI systems drive
countries forward along the development
ladder and along the transition to some kind
of modernity. Paradigmatic innovation may
be necessary for this transition and for over-
coming poverty and hunger – the essence of
MDGs – and this cannot be achieved with-
out upgrading and modernizing innovation
systems. It cannot be achieved without new
visions, new paradigms and new strategies.
This is what this paper is about.
Many African countries are making
remarkable progress in STI and in knowl-
edge in spite of meager budgetary resources
and important pre-modern cosmological,
cultural, linguistic, social, economic and
political complexities and difficulties. The
progress is real and encouraging, even
spectacular in some cases (RSA, Morocco,
Tunisia, Egypt...), even though government’
pledges are not fulfilled. But much of the
region has been historically incapable of
fully exploiting the power of modern STI
systems for development. This might not
change fundamentally without a paradigms
shift, something that is being heard more
and more in STI meetings and conferences.
Scientific and technical capacities indeed
remain low, with relatively few autonomous
and unconstrained thinkers, scholars and
intellectuals, and relatively few researchers,
scientists, engineers, technicians, doctors,
publishers, patentees and Internauts per
capita. There is also a low capacity to give a
significant content to the idea of paradigms
shift and ‘scientific revolution’ and relative-
ly few theorists and sages capable of truly
‘thinking outside the box’, that is outside
received dogmas, creeds, doctrines, beliefs,
canons, taboos and cultures. This low ca-
pacity is documented in great details and do
not need to be discussed further here.
Increasing capacities for launching a
‘scientific revolution’ and uncovering some
variety or brand of Afro-modernity requires
specific strategies and related capacities that
are presently weak. It requires strategic ca-
pacities to carry out uphill struggles and ex-
pend considerable efforts ‘simultaneously’
on an extensive range of battlefronts or bat-
tlegrounds. These have been summarized
under eight areas.
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