Wikipedia has the fallowing on the concept of leapfrogging
"...The concept of leapfrogging was originally used in the context of economic growth theories and industrial-organization innovation studies with specific focus on competition among firms. It is based on Joseph Schumpeter's notion of ‘gales of creative destruction’.[1] The hypothesis proposes that companies holding monopolies based on incumbent technologies have less incentive to innovate than potential rivals, and therefore they eventually lose their technological leadership role when new radical technological innovations are adopted by new firms which are ready to take the risks. When the radical innovations eventually become the new technological paradigm, the newcomer companies leapfrog ahead of former leading firms.
More recently the concept of leapfrogging is being used in the context of sustainable development for developing countries as a theory of development which may accelerate development by skipping inferior, less efficient, more expensive or more polluting technologies and industries and move directly to more advanced ones. It is proposed that through leapfrogging developing countries can avoid environmentally harmful stages of development and do not need to follow the polluting development trajectory of industrialied countries.[2] The adoption of solar energy technologies in developing countries are examples of where countries do not repeat the mistakes of highly industrialized countries in creating an energy infrastructure based on fossil fuels, but "jump" directly into the Solar Age..."
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leapfrogging
So the question is would it possible to apply this concept to social and political change. Would it possible to replace totalitarian and repressive systems by free and democratic systems in an undeveloped country like ours without going through the traditional liberation, revolution phase?Technology is the enabler for the economic leapfrogging. What is the parallel new social technology which would enable social and political leapfrogging?What is expected of the players in this process?Is social and political leapfrogging tied to the technological and economic leapfrogging?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
UDJ Fracturing AEUP stagnating! Could EDP emerge stronger at the center?
UDJ with it's leader in jail and unable to mount significant pressure for her release and moreover weakend by internal squabbling and fracturing, AEUP stagnating and failing to register on the Ethiopian political radar would EDP emerge the strongest centrist Challenger to TPLF rule?
No doubt for verious reasons EDP has fallen off the grace of many Ethiopians. But it seems the alternative multi ethnic parties lack the discipline and vision to lead. Would this make Ethiopians to reconsider EDP as a viable alternative to the other parties that got their visibility due to membership of prominent individuals than a coherent stratagy and program?
It is clear EDP and it's leaders bafle many Ethiopians. They fail to participate on an emotional orgy we Ethiopians seem to enjoy. They are absent from issues that seems to burn most Ethiopians. They have yet to come out with a clear stand on issues like Birtukans incarceration, the domination of the armed forces by Ethnic tigreans, the sell of Ethiopian territory to Sudan, the looting of Ethiopian wealth...etc. Probably this is an omission on my part, if so i would be willing to learn. Probably this is a strategy they are forced to adapt to be able to operate in the country. Since the alternative is to be exiled and shout in Washington which has not shown any result yet.
EDP seems to have neatly organized and with a clear agenda and strategy. They have done it before and there is every reason to believe they could do it again if they can convince the first few Ethiopians that they are the same adored people of pre 2005. Since the alternatives don't look so appealing. From the mass meetings they have conducted in various parts of the country there seems at least a willingness to listen to them from Ethiopians and question them.
There is no doubt their opponents are more now and probably would do every thing to stop them on their track which has already started from every direction. I guess one can say their success can be measured from the amount of attack directed at them.
It is worth remembering when EDP started it's expansion many of the prominent political parties not only dismissed them as inconsequential but tried to exclude them from every political arena and mounted unwarranted attacks. But the Ethiopians who were disillusioned by veteran political operatives converged in mass towards EDP. This forced the veterans to reconsider their position.
And at the end it was EDPs organizational structure and program that become the nucleus for the formation of CUD that for the first time in Ethiopian history brought majority of Ethiopians around one cause with out corrosion. It was indeed a historical moment whose importance could not be diminished though later the gains made that day were squandered by the same leaders.
There are many questions to be asked and unfortunately it is only time that will answer. We can of course speculate, protest, curse, support, condemn...etc. As usual.
No doubt for verious reasons EDP has fallen off the grace of many Ethiopians. But it seems the alternative multi ethnic parties lack the discipline and vision to lead. Would this make Ethiopians to reconsider EDP as a viable alternative to the other parties that got their visibility due to membership of prominent individuals than a coherent stratagy and program?
It is clear EDP and it's leaders bafle many Ethiopians. They fail to participate on an emotional orgy we Ethiopians seem to enjoy. They are absent from issues that seems to burn most Ethiopians. They have yet to come out with a clear stand on issues like Birtukans incarceration, the domination of the armed forces by Ethnic tigreans, the sell of Ethiopian territory to Sudan, the looting of Ethiopian wealth...etc. Probably this is an omission on my part, if so i would be willing to learn. Probably this is a strategy they are forced to adapt to be able to operate in the country. Since the alternative is to be exiled and shout in Washington which has not shown any result yet.
EDP seems to have neatly organized and with a clear agenda and strategy. They have done it before and there is every reason to believe they could do it again if they can convince the first few Ethiopians that they are the same adored people of pre 2005. Since the alternatives don't look so appealing. From the mass meetings they have conducted in various parts of the country there seems at least a willingness to listen to them from Ethiopians and question them.
There is no doubt their opponents are more now and probably would do every thing to stop them on their track which has already started from every direction. I guess one can say their success can be measured from the amount of attack directed at them.
It is worth remembering when EDP started it's expansion many of the prominent political parties not only dismissed them as inconsequential but tried to exclude them from every political arena and mounted unwarranted attacks. But the Ethiopians who were disillusioned by veteran political operatives converged in mass towards EDP. This forced the veterans to reconsider their position.
And at the end it was EDPs organizational structure and program that become the nucleus for the formation of CUD that for the first time in Ethiopian history brought majority of Ethiopians around one cause with out corrosion. It was indeed a historical moment whose importance could not be diminished though later the gains made that day were squandered by the same leaders.
There are many questions to be asked and unfortunately it is only time that will answer. We can of course speculate, protest, curse, support, condemn...etc. As usual.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
I got fed up of loud people who hog the microphone. If you are nice and wait for your turn to speak out you will never get the chance. If you need to be heard you have to grab the microphone. You have to be rude. You have to be loud. You have to be obnoxious.
Well some can, and some can't. I can't. So I got fed up of being shoved aside. Sometimes I also have some ting to say. I think what I have to say is important. I may realise later that I might be wrong (I do that). But most of the time I believe on my ideas and I want them to be there as an alternative. I don't want them to be shoved aside. So I created this page. I hope you find it different and Worthy of your attention.
Well some can, and some can't. I can't. So I got fed up of being shoved aside. Sometimes I also have some ting to say. I think what I have to say is important. I may realise later that I might be wrong (I do that). But most of the time I believe on my ideas and I want them to be there as an alternative. I don't want them to be shoved aside. So I created this page. I hope you find it different and Worthy of your attention.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)