Knowledge and Development in Twenty-First Century Africa

Abstract

Knowledge is the key to Africa’s development, security, and good governance. Knowledge drives globalization, stock markets, changes in information technology, and strategies to tackle human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). This paper explores the global structure of knowledge. It claims that Africa remains on the world's scientific, technological, economic, political, and military margins mainly because it is a net consumer, rather than a producer, of usable knowledge. It examines the meaning of development in Africa. This paper discusses how African states could acquire a larger share in the benefits of global knowledge if they established a political and legal atmosphere that permitted innovations in science and technology, flexible working conditions, and respect for fundamental freedoms. It further discusses why African states would find it easier to build knowledge economies if they paid adequate attention to capacity building. This paper concludes that most of the knowledge that Africa needs for development appears to be embedded in the complex relations between globalization, security, and governance. Without these three factors, transmitting and applying new ideas in Africa would be hard.