ARSTA Blog

STRATEGY OF SUBVERSIVE RATIONALIZATION FOR AFRICA

2008-04-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

STRATEGY OF SUBVERSIVE RATIONALIZATION - for uncovering modernity inAfrica. The strategy emphasizes the internalization of the scientificmethod and rational modes of thinking as well as the assimilation ofkey scientific knowledge, as the epistemological foundation of anykind of modernity. It also stresses the necessity of renovatingconformist, traditionalist or totalizing belief and knowledge systems,worldviews and cultures, that stand in the way to essential changes onthe road to modernity - a mega-project of autonomization,individuation, rationalization, demystification and feminizationprocesses (less patriarchal forms). Modernity is also a project ofdemocratization, liberalization, secularization, trans-nationalization, systematization, technocratization and humanizationprocesses.

The strategy relies on scientific knowledge, which offers onlyincomplete and patchy theories of the real but nonetheless possiblythe best models of reality, for reordering and reconstructing theAfrican reality and for engaging it with up to date, robust andeconomically efficient technical know-how. More generally, it relieson calculative thinking and on the scientific tradition as the mostviable civilizational horizon of a budding region, whose tortuous anduncertain transition to modernity may necessitate an imaginativestrand of thinking. Triumphant techno-scientific dogmas need not leadinevitably to the devastation, excesses and wastefulness of post-industrial consumerist cultures. They need not to be a model for anAfrican modernity, which can avoid being exceedingly obsessed, en-framed or ordered by technology.

Humans, knowledge and technology are co-emerging, co-evolutive andmutually co-constitutive of each other. And as soon as we are born weenter into a corrupted reality: corrupted by ancient customarythinking, viewpoints and taboos; corrupted by ancestors' tyrannies,norms and ideals; corrupted by the veiling visions of pre-contemporarycosmologies, revelations and prophecies; corrupted by inherited alienreligious canons and credos - including those of ConstantinianChristianity and Imperial Islam, which from a scientific perspectivecan be assimilated to blind lotteries (confirmed by statistics) ofself-confirming systems of medieval thinking, superstitions andprejudices; corrupted by lies, mis-information and deceptions;corrupted by spirits, divinities and other cultural paradigms; and,more universally, corrupted by conventional modes of thinking,knowing, understanding and being.

The strategy of Subversive Rationalization aims at freeing,'uncorrupting' or modernizing mentalities and mindscapes, thus openingthe way to the emergence of some brand of original modernity on theAfrican continent, going further than the simple ownership and displayof modernity's most visible technological gadgets and gizmos. It aimsat reforming the technological code with key technologies: of theself, of sign, of freedom, of change, of creativity, of power and oftruth. These technologies are fundamental for guiding the 'rebirth' ofthe self, or for cultivating the 'reborn' Afro-self as a more modernself; for enlarging the freedom necessary for the required societaltransformations; for evolving effective technological symbols andmeanings, such as those of a generous and mobilizing vision of amodern Africa; for designing and manufacturing appropriate materialartefacts; for innovating in processes of change, includingtechnologically-induced socio-cultural change; for reordering powerconfigurations; and for uncovering, producing or reconstructing truth- an essential technology in a sea of lies, half-truths, self-delusions, clichés, cock-and-bull stories, and an importantconstitutive element of modernity.

If 'ideas shape the course of history' (Keynes) or if 'imaginationshapes history' (Napoleon) then access to modernity entails going pastinflationary rhetorical discourse, utopian dreams and ceremonialentertainments. It requires subversive ideas and actions and amethodology that can engineer radical and terribly complex adjustmentsin the intricate inner working of African communities. It calls forcritical thinking, dialogue, self-examination, 'self-exorcism' andoutright 'war' against the conservative supremacy of the status quoand the authority structures that maintain it. This cannot beachieved through somewhat academic, elitist and reductionistpolicies. The basic choice facing the region is between customaryreligio-mythic, idolatrous or astonishingly over-religious rules, onthe one hand, and enlightening development regimes substantiated bycontrolled experiences, on the other hand.

The relative bottom position of most African countries in the techno-scientific global order is beyond dispute and current STI strategiesmay leave half the region as deprived as ever, blown by the fiercewinds of technologization and globalization, locked into scientificand technical dependency and unable to meet key MDGs. In thesecircumstances, a strategy of Subversive Rationalization may be helpfulfor putting in place new foundational power-knowledge frameworks andconfigurations, and for improving the African condition.
The African problematic of low exploitation of science and technologyis well known in details and is often understood as the main reasonbehind the region's poor socio-economic performance. In this lowtechno-scientific environment, attempts to give substance to the ideaof an African Renaissance and comparable initiatives, haveproliferated: Nyerre's Ujamaa, Mobutu's Authenticité, Sengor'sNégritude, Nkruma's Conciencism, Kenyata's Harambee, Wade's Omega,Bouteflika's Ennahda Movement, Mbeki's 'Call to Rebellion' (1998) -let alone the vision of the Commission for Africa. These initiativeshave mostly been successful at developing, justifying andcommunicating specific visions of modernity. But they also all havebeen failures because they have not only under-estimated the colossaleffort required for achieving the necessary makeovers but they alsoconveniently ignored the most important changes to bring about: thepainful modernization of the mythological landscape, including pre-modern Abrahamic, Shamanic and Animist mythologies. These changesimply a paradigmatic shift toward scientific ways of observing,questioning, analyzing and knowing or toward science as the latestmyth or the new religion of the time that can propel the continentinto some kind of modernity.

Rationalization refers to a maturation process guided by thescientific method and by instrumental reason, more than by fairy talelegacies, superstitions, revealed or divine knowledge, as historicallyenvisioned by prominent Enlightenment philosophers and scientists ofthe 16th and 17th centuries. This rationalization enables bettercontrol and more accurate calculation of means to achieve preciseends, resulting in superior technological or technical effectivenessand flexibility, and in greater industrial advance. Modernizingnations are more ideologically open or keener to mathematize andchannel the forces of nature for their own benefit. And they are moreoriented toward the corrosion of doubt - believing in things thatcan be empirically supported -- and toward improving lives in thisworld (rather than in the after-life). In these mindsets, there areno place for Jonas-in-the-whale type of spellbound stories, amazingarchangels, absurd limbos, far-fetched miracles, occult forces andprovidential intrusions. Reality is what is perceived throughtechnological means. This results in developing societies beingprogressively subverted into essentially more 'advanced', enlightenedor disenchanted ones.
Subversion refers to a process of overthrowing or overturning systemsof principles and convictions as well as forms of dominance, controland power that are incompatible with or are not sustained byinstrumental rationality and renovation processes. These processesresult in the uprooting of totalizing, oppressive or terror structuresthat obstruct the way to modern manners of grasping reality - fromterrorizing gods and demons, authoritative governments, phallocraticecclesiasts, polygamous masters, mystifying medicine men to cloisteredwomen, domestic slaves, mutilated girls and abducted brides. Astrategy of Subversive Rationalization, therefore, means clearing theway toward more pragmatic, empirical and mechanical worldviews and atcritically challenging pre-modern systems from un-enabling governancestructures, including commanding husbands, as well as fromconstraining cosmological and ideological formations, whether home-grown or alien.

The strategy of Subversive Rationalization intends to probe theknowledge-power-technology gaps with modern / scientific modes ofperceiving. Filling this gap necessitates not only acquiring newtypes of information, such as scientific, technical and business, butalso abandoning some habitual or pre-scientific types of knowledgethat stands in the way to progress and modernity. As much endeavourmay be required to unlearn or deconstruct a pre-modern realityacquired through acculturation and socialization, than to learn newscientific and technical knowledge and a new version of reality.

Scientific proficiency is by far the trickiest to achieve since itoften comes in conflict with long-established traditional knowledgeedifices, which may not be seriously altered without social andpolitical struggles. Undeniably, pre-modern spiritual constructions,including those originating from the Middle-East and ancient Arabia,tend to mesmerize, domesticate or subjugate African societies, leavinginsufficient room for true scientific ways of viewing, judging,behaving, existing and living. These scientific ways must gain groundover non-scientific ways.
In a strategy of Subversive Rationalization, medieval faith-basedrepresentations, infrastructures and institutions, such as theinstitution of Heaven / Hell - amongst the most powerful establishmentregulating the lives of Africans - are superseded or supplanted by newthinking, unleashing the power of efficient systems, such assuccessful innovation systems.

Indeed, Evangelical and Qur'anicmodels, although of relatively recent human construction, may lackdecisive values for accessing modernity, such as democraticgovernance; the complete utilization of feminine talents andaptitudes; affection and care for nature; a concern for the future;superiority of scientific methods and hypotheses over 'gaseous' orprophetic knowledge; a strong focus on life before death and a lessfatalistic attitude toward the lifeworld and poverty - allindispensable preconditions for uncovering modernity. In manycircumstances mytho-religious texts and documents - promoted by apervasive and expanding physical and human infrastructure (not exactlya hotspring of fresh worldviews) - may constitute a virtual owner'smanual for one's life. This is especially so for Africans-of-one-book, which under certain conditions may not be conducive toparadigmatic innovation. Only techno-scientific knowledge can sustainthe deep transformations to modernity.

Subversive Rationalization requires pushing back fabulous or pre-scientific beliefs formations in order to clear a space or a pathwayfor more scientific views and practices. The central tussle is beingplayed between various categories of knowledge - from scientificallyfounded to unfounded. This could be the crucible where a meaningfulAfrican modernity could emerge, through a redefinition of cultural,social, economic, ideological, mythological and politicalrelationships with science and technology.

Technology is more than a tool or an instrument at our disposal. It isalso an organizing activity in which humans themselves are organized.The more technologies evolve and become ubiquitous the more humans arethemselves transformed and organized into resources, raw material,system components, toys, cogs, devices and sex organs and optimizedfor the sake of system efficiency - the essence of technology. Theoutcome is easier and more secure and prosperous ways of life, butdominated and regulated by the rigorous disciplinary order oftechnical systems. In this framework, the African youth struggles tobecome 'efficient' resource in the global job market, while technologymainly reveals Africa as a collection of folkloric curiosities, and animmense fuel station coveted for powering the global technologicalengine.

A techno-scientific renewal through a strategy of SubversiveRationalization could be helpful in promoting Pan-African integrationand in responding to the special needs of the region. It could besupportive in revitalizing, refreshing, unifying and integratingknowledge systems in African territories. These systems are greatlyfractured, compartmented, 'medievalized' and largely unscientificallyfounded (Muslim / Christian division and exclusive possession),balkanized (by six colonizing powers), fragmented (+ 1000 idioms andworldviews), and mythologized (with indigenous and foreignsuperstitions). Knowledge is also sometimes monopolized (non-sharingknowledge practices and ethos), atomized (not part of any advancedinternational knowledge networks), decontextualized (uprooted,transplanted from the technologically-advanced areas), unused orunderused (scientists as taxi drivers), misappropriated (by powerhungry sources), under or mis-professionalized (shamanic knowledge),misapplied (ecocidal) or misinterpreted (disregarding scientificrevolutions). African knowledge is also somewhat being eroded(extinct or dying knowledge), canned (ready-made shipped in a pre-packaged fashion), drained (brains seeking greener pasture), rarelyrented (against royalty payments) and always somewhat plagued withancestors-,Western- and phallo-centricity. A strategy of SubversiveRationalization would provide an enhanced and more modern ordering ofknowledge and reality.

Current science, technology, innovation and knowledge policyapproaches remain hopelessly naïve and basically adjunct to the actualworking of knowledge economies. They do not address the issuesspecifically related to a region a bit 'stained' with pre-modernhabits of mind, languages and views of the universe and life. They donot put enough emphasis on the structural-constitutional issues thathave stabilized many African spaces into pre-modern technological waysof life (with some growing islands of imitative modernization). Thesespaces can graduate into some sort of modernity through a moreintensive, rational, unfettered and popular use of avant-gardescience, technology and knowledge and with the requisite mental orintellectual costumes of modern times.

Free-thinkers, scientists, policymakers and stakeholders could beinfluential in contextualizing and supporting a strategy of SubversiveRationalization in the African region. In line and in full support ofNEPAD, they could commit themselves to building competences foracquiring and incorporating vital techno-scientific knowledge instrategic areas and to encouraging and utilizing science as a way ofthinking, which fortunately or unfortunately, is highly injurious anddetrimental to time-honoured traditional or pre-modern myths,prejudices, doctrines, tenets, precepts, credos, faiths or fantasies.

A strategy of Subversive Rationalization could entrust opinion makersand the scientific and entrepreneurial communities to sound courses ofaction such as strengthening capacities for converting or revampingexisting traditional knowledge systems, including faith-based systems,and for restructuring or recreating reality. These could includeAfricanizing, decolonizing, indigenizing, liberating, re-cosmologizing, re-mythologizing, re-charlatanizing, re-prophetizing,re-sacralizing and re-deifying processes for a different Africanadventure, driven by thriving methodical ways of thinking andscientific practices..In summary the strategy of Subversive Rationalization uses the powerof scientific thought to launch a counter hegemonic offensive in orderto subvert disabling traditional and repressive knowledge-power ordersthat stand in the way to a new realism, or to the rejuvenation andreconstruction of the African reality. The strategy may be valuablefor bringing about a post-totemic, post-enchanted, post-Abrahamic,post-phallocratic, post-colonial and post-fragmented regional spaceand in moving Africa forward into a distinctive, creative, secular andauthentic form of modernity.

Jacques L. Hamel
ARSTA Blog Contributor

The $100 laptop now the $188 laptop

2007-09-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -- The vaunted "$100 laptop" that Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers dreamed up for international schoolchildren is becoming a slightly more distant concept.

The $100 laptop has many innovative features including a pull cord for recharging by hand.

Leaders of the nonprofit One Laptop Per Child that was spun out of MIT acknowledged Friday that the devices are now slated to cost $188 when mass production begins this fall. The last price the nonprofit announced was $176; it described $100 as a long-term goal.

Spokesman George Snell blamed the increase on a variety of factors, including currency fluctuations and rising costs of such components as nickel and silicon. He said the project was committed to keeping the price from rising above $190.

While less than $200 for an innovative, wireless-enabled, hand-powered laptop is a relative bargain, a price nearly twice what the project's memorable nickname promised could make it harder for One Laptop Per Child to sign up international governments as customers. Those governments are expected to give the computers to children for them to keep and tinker with, which the project's founders believe will cause critical thinking and creativity to blossom.

"Where does it end? It started out at $130, then it was $148, then it was $176, now it's $188 -- what's next? $200?" said Wayan Vota, the former director of the Geekcorps international tech-development organization and current editor of the OLPCNews blog. "You have these governments who were looking at this original, fanciful $100-per-child figure, now we're going up towards or maybe past $200."

One Laptop Per Child says it has commitments for at least 3 million of its rugged "XO" computers, though it won't disclose which countries are first in line. Among the nations that have shown interest are Brazil, Libya, Thailand and Uruguay.

The "XO" machines feature an open-source interface designed to be intuitive for children; a sunlight-readable display; very low power consumption; built-in wireless networking; and a pull cord for recharging by hand. The laptops are being made by Taiwan's Quanta Computer Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of portable computers.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/09/14/hundred.dollar.laptop.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

ARSTA Partners With Innovator Factor Foundation

2007-09-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

ARSTA has formed a new partnership with Innovator Factor Foundation headquartered in India that places special emphasis on the Grassroot Innovators, Economically Challenged Innovators, Women Innovators, and Technology for the Third World Countries and Physically Challenged. The IFF has been established with a vision of better world through exponential innovation facilitation. The innovation facilitation strategy emphasizes on Innovation Promotion-Appreciation-Applications, Intellectual Protection Idea-Product Transformations, Innovator-Industry Interaction.

This partnership is an opportunity to expose African youths to innovation and solution. We look forward to working with Mr Apurv Mishra, the Founder and Executive Director of Innovator Factor Foundation. You can access the website at http://www.innovatorfactor.org

Cape pupils win award for top website

2007-08-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to read article.

ARSTA Executive Board Meeting - Atlanta, Georgia. August 10-12

2007-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

ARSTA Board of Directors Meeting to be held in Atlanta, Please let me know if you are able to attend and i will put you on the accomodation list. Travel expenses are on your own if you choose to attend but accomodation is free!!!. At this time, we are unable to provide travel assistance but all receipts should be submitted to the finance team for processing and you can recieve it on your tax return at the end of the year!!!

Agenda for this event will be provided, even though its going to be mostly money and programs-related, so yes, it will be a working weekend. Attire is business casual and bring comfortable shoes, we will be doing a lot of brainstorming for the second half of our fiscal year, so come with a positive mind and energy! If you need more information, please let me know or contact Babasoji Maurice-Diya at babasoji@gmail.com or Adaora Mbelu at adaora.mbelu@gmail.com.

Official Press Release Statement, Business Block, Nigeria

2007-06-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

ADVOCATE FOR THE REVOLUTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA

Advocate for the Revolution of Science and Technology (ARSTA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of intensive programs in promoting science and technology that genuinely serve the interest of African countries. In order to enable the science and technology sector contribute to genuine development in Africa, ARSTA recognizes the need to stop the vicious cycle of poor science education, backward science and technology, and economic subservience brought about by historical and socio-economic conditions.

The organization consists of highly motivated students and professionals who currently reside outside the country in the U.S, Canada, France and UK. They are passionate about developing solid science and engineering programs that will enhance the learning of science and engineering courses by African students. They are committed to create a foundation to revolutionize and empower Africa, creating exciting opportunities, putting enormous premium on creative and innovative skills. Providing hands-on learning environment where the principles of calculus, chemistry, physics, technology, computer, economics and engineering are taught through activities that fill the classroom with a cacophony of nailing, robotic design, laboratory works. The result: the kids learn to apply academic principles to the real world, think strategically and develop problem solving skills.

The Executive Director, Miss Blessing Oyeleye stated that Africa has most often adopted a short term view to globalization and has continued to rely on short term activities and solutions. As a result the continent has failed to invest in science, technology and innovation as sources and drivers of economic growth. Africa’s continued low interest in science and technology is also manifested in the declining quality of science and engineering education at all levels. Student interest in science and engineering subjects at primary, secondary and tertiary levels is also declining. The continent is also loosing some of its best scientific and technical expertise to other regions of the world.

The summer-engineering program is set to kick off in 2008 in Nigeria and Ghana. It involves a lot of planning said Miss Oyeleye, because we are trying to bring in the best technical African students we’ve got, role models to our youths, and build partnerships with local educational agencies, governments and corporations in the country. Technology is fundamental to poverty reduction and economic transformation of Africa. Africa has been involved in a vicious cycle of poverty, stunted educational growth and a serious lack of innovation, creativity and development. It is undoubtedly imperative for the African to play a major role in the science and technological advancement currently taking place in the global marketplace.

Technology and Synergy

2007-05-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

The world is getting more sophisticated and people who understand this are more advantaged, no matter what their occupation is; teacher, doctor, economist, lawyer or researcher. I love synergy becuase it brings growth. Think about the convergence of electrical engineering and life sciences, this could create a robust area in product development. Developing areas in biomedicals, biotechnology are proofs that we can still go further in engineering. I envision low power and ultrasound devices for use in remote areas, implantable devices that can monitor individuals health, Artificial intelligence, Cybernetics, Alternative energy technology, Evolutionary robotics, Bioengineering and medical science, Neural networks, Nanotechnology & microelectromechanical systems, Transhumanism, Materials science,Bioinformatics,Techno-progressivism, Mechatronics, Technological ethics all in synergy.

Challenges facing Africa

2007-02-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

Africa is one of the world's richest regions in terms of natural resources, yet has seen little of the profits from their exploitation. 33 of the 48 least developed countries were in Africa (very alarming……its what I call ridiculous)Africa is blessed with vast mineral wealth, great agricultural capacity and rich diversity of plants and animals. Yet, as the market value of these commodities declines, Africa will need to stimulate the manufacture of value-added products in order to compete in an increasingly technological market place. AND THIS WILL MEAN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY!!! According to UNESCO's 1998 World Science Report, "_ Africa will be unable to rise above its current level of poverty without pursuing manufacturing more purposefully. Doing that will necessarily require greater focus on industrial research and development...". And because Africa's main resource to carry it through the 21st century will be the creativity of its people, which is where we all come in. Available figures suggest that as many as 30,000 Africans holding Ph.D. degrees are living outside the continent. Students who are able to find employment abroad leave, while some of those trained abroad do not return. This is a major concern for me because, before many of us travel abroad, we had boasted on how we are going to change our country, impact Africa and when we get there, we just lost it. Partly because of our exposure to things on a global level and the being faced with the fact that those back home are behind and that we cannot relate with them on the same level. We perform ground breaking research, serve as prominent lawyers, accountants and doctors to foreigners simply because Africa has no resource or room for development for us and cannot serve as a backbone for our new status and achievement and cannot in anyway sustain or nourish it. I CALL THIS BRAIN DRAIN!!!!! Simply because someone else is getting credit for all our efforts and still have the gut to call Africa non existent in terms of global presence. NOW IS THE TIME to step up for ourselves, help our brothers and sisters back home in the journey to global competitiveness. Strengthen their level of numeracy and literacy (and notice the word “numeracy”, it stresses the need for indepth knowledge of mathematics). A 1992 study estimated that Africa counted only 20,000 scientists and engineers, or 0.36 per cent of the world total ( I find this alarming for one out of seven continent in the world). According to another study, Africa was responsible for only 0.8 per cent of total world scientific publications. Its world share of patents is close to zero.In Japan, the United States and Europe, there are between two and five scientists and engineers per 1,000 population. Parts of sub-Saharan Africa have only one scientist or engineer for about every 10,000 population.One of the most serious challenges for education in Africa is obsolescence. Training curricula and facilities lag far behind those in other parts of the world. It is common in Africa to see science classes with students taking turns to use a handful of microscopes and other instruments, if these are even available. In some cases students have to pay for essential materials themselves.

In conclusion, Science is not a luxury or an add-on. It requires a supportive cultural environment which includes YOU and I as youths who have the opportunities to get an international experience and education. Now is the time to act! The problem in Africa can only be fixed by its own people.

Intel's Eduwise low-cost PC revealed

2007-02-21T11:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/04/intels-eduwise-low-cost-pc-revealed/

Nigeria orders first million OLPC laptops

2007-02-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2161048/nigeria-orders-olpc-laptops

Can Africa conquer space?

2007-02-21T01:01:00.000-08:00

On April 25, 2002, Mark Shuttleworth became the first African in space. The United States and Russia may be the forerunners of space research but African countries also have their own space ambitions.

Here are some resources on Africa's space quest so far:
http://www.space.gov.za/
http://www.nasrda.org/
http://www.africaninspace.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Shuttleworth
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Egypt_To_Launch_First_Scientific_Satellite_In_Late_2007_999.html

Africa – A need to Discover to Recover

2007-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Africa has most often adopted a short term view to human development and has continued to rely on external financial support targeting short term activities and solutions. As a result the continent has failed to invest in science, technology and innovation as sources and drivers of economic growth and long term sustainable development. Africa’s continued low interest in science and technology is also manifested in the declining quality of science and engineering education at all levels. Student enrolment in science and engineering subjects at primary, secondary and tertiary levels is also falling. The continent is also loosing some of its best scientific and technical expertise to other regions of the world.

Reality is that we cannot make it as a continent if we fail to embrace science and technology. That’s the only measure by which economic advancement is being measured. As stated by Raya Dunayevskaya (1973), “the tragedy of the African revolutions began so soon after the revolution had succeeded because leaders were so weighed down with the consciousness of technological backwardness”. Another French diplomat stated that “Economically speaking, if the entire black Africa, with the exception of South Africa, were to disappear in a flood, the global cataclysm will be approximately nonexistent”.