Jeff (Axup), thanks for continuing the discussion and opening up many new sub-threads -- I would like to address every one of those, but clearly can't. But let me continue the conversation anyway. Bear with me through the following points which seem unrelated to the issue initially. 1. The idea of 'developing' versus 'developed' nation is a Western, 20th century one. I don't quite care for politics, or ideologies, left, right, center, religious, political, sociological, etc. but this much seems clear to me; ALL nations deemed 'developing' or 'underdeveloped' were those that used to be European colonies -- more specifically, the colonies of six Western European nations: UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Netherlands. Before the 20th century, there was no such dichotomy.
2. 'Underdevelopment' or 'backwardness' was a consequence of these later-labeled 'underdeveloped' nations having been looted of their natural wealth by the Colonial Six (C6) and their fragile, carefully evolved over the centuries social order having been thoroughly destroyed. It is well established that without the wealth looted from the 'backward' nations, modern Western society (through the Industrial Revolution) would never have happened. I also acknowledge that the other factor was the development of modern Western science which was NOT looted from 'underdeveloped' nations. 3. Modern Western values, behaviors, etc. were then established as the 'Gold Standard' by which ALL societies would be judged and evaluated. 2. The terms 'developing' and 'underdeveloped' -- in my not-so-humble-opinion were coined as a way of skirting around any guilt and responsibility associated with the 'underdevelopment' of formerly non-underdeveloped nations. By using the term 'underdeveloped' one creates the impression in readers not acquainted or interested in history that such a situation always existed, and it was left to the Magnanimous and Advanced Person From the West to come develop your nation -- through the device of various innocuous sounding institutions such as the World Bank. BTW, numerous well-intentioned and decent Westerners bought into this (not knowing history) and have dedicated their lives to improving the lot of the less-privileged, without realizing that their efforts are probably being constantly undermined by Western institutions more interested in maintaining the status quo (of disparities) because it is these disparities that allow for the maintenance of the high standards of the West that everybody in the world is asked (implicitly, through media images) to aspire to -- but if they actually did, then such high standards would become unsustainable in every part of the world. Left to themselves, and without external exploitation, all societies will eventually develop and attain some quasi-steady state -- or at least a state of 'sustainable growth/development'. So what does all this have to do with the XO and technological interventions in 'developing'/'underdeveloped' nations, you might ask. First, one needs to change one's understanding of 'underdevelopment' -- where it came from, how it happened, and how it might be avoided in the future. Second, human society has been around for 2 million years or more, and has survived and thrived in the most difficult of circumstance. People of all cultures are resourceful. One must treat them with respect and work WITH them to develop solutions rather than come fresh off the boat, bearing trinkets, determined to solve their most pressing problems in a couple of months and walking away satisfied, without thinking through the consquences, particularly the issue of sustainability. Alternatively, when you introduce an intervention, don't go about proclaiming that it's earth-shattering and will alter society in profound ways forever and that there's nothing nearly so important as it around -- much more modesty is advised. I think the quality of modesty was lacking in the OLPC/XO project at least with regard to how it was promoted. On the other hand, perhaps all marketing demands a lack of modesty -- I quit sales after 5 years, early in my career, and never went back to that line of work. I've already said too much, I think! Regards, murli ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
