The impact of the international transfer of technology on the development of indigenous technology in Saudi Arabia

This dissertation explores the impact of the international transfer of technology on the development of indigenous technology in Saudi Arabia since 1970. The essential question investigated is whether a transfer of technology had occurred. If such a transfer had occurred: (1) To what extent did it occur and what sector or sectors of the Saudi economy did it affect? (2) Did this transfer induce other forms of indigenous technologies? (3) How much impact, if any, did the transferred technology have on the development of indigenous human resources? (4) What was the impact of this transfer, if any, on the social and political institutions in Saudi Arabia?; The general conclusion of this study is that a broad and systematic transfer of technology had not occurred in accordance with the definition offered in this research. After reaching this conclusion, the study then attempted to determine why this transfer had not happened. Two case studies are utilized to further investigate this problem. Finally, the study seeks to identify the conditions necessary for a transfer of technology to take place. The study examines two major and separate hypotheses: (1) international transfer of technology will result in the development of indigenous technology in developing countries; and (2) the development of an appropriate indigenous technology is dependent upon the development of indigenous human resources. The study uses both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected through open-ended interviews with officials from the government and the private sectors, and survey questionnaires. Secondary sources are the various government and nongovernment publications, development plans, development policies, annual statistics, and other relevant publications.