IV. Instead of a conclusion
Collective self-reliance of developing countries is not a process
in itself not is it a closed circle isolated from world and scientific progress.
It is a complementary component of the battle waged by developing countries to
achieve national self-reliance in creative activity in close relation with
endogenous social transformations and the development of indigenous capacities
for autonomous decision-making. Collective self-reliance also should contribute
to a wider exchange of knowledge, experience, and information among developing
countries, that is, to inadequately developed components in overall scientific
and technological development. It also presents a basis for the development of
alternative technological strategies adapted to the needs and resources of
developing countries.
Collective self-reliance should help strengthen the negotiating
position of developing countries in changing present inequitable relations in
world science and technology. In strengthening the negotiating position of
developing countries in the UN system, special significance is accorded to its
greater use in augmenting the potential of developing countries and expanding
co-operation among them. Mutual co-operation among developing countries should
contribute toward marking the International Strategy for the Third International
Development Decade as the strategy of endogenous development and interdependence
without domination. The following research projects are recommended to promote
the principles of collective self-reliance among developing countries:
- a system of communication among developing countries
in the field of science and technology;
- relations between scientific and technological policies in light
of social transformations of developing countries and the strengthening of
mutual co-operation;
- development of alternative technologies in correlation with
national and collective self-reliance;
- methodological basis of assessment and forecasting of
technological development in developing
countries.
