Prometheus

Journal Name: Prometheus: Volume 21, Number 3, September 2003

Online ISSN: 0810-9028, Print ISSN: 1470-1030

Papers

Creating Space in the Global Economy: Building a High Tech Dream in Malaysia (pp289-301)
LOONG WONG (Lecturer, School of E-Business and Management, University of Newcastle, Australia)
Abstract:
The globalisation of innovation has become a major issue in the discourses of economic development. There is a view that unfettered market forces will promote greater and better developmental outcomes and for this to happen, the state must play a minimalist role. There is the other view that argues that the state can play 'catalytic' roles and mediate the forces of globalisation to engender outcomes congruent to its aspirations. In this paper, we look at the experiences of one Asian state, Malaysia. The paper will examine the historical evolution of technology policies in Malaysia. It argues that the Malaysian state has been an active change agent and has sought to realise its vision of becoming a democratic, modern and 'developed society' via its latest technology flagship, the Multimedia Supercorridor (MSC). The paper argues that, despite its resoluteness and investment in the project, the Malaysian state is unlikely to succeed in producing its high tech utopia. Rooted in a highly technocratic and managerial context, the Malaysian vision fails to account for the prevailing institutional forces impacting on, and impeding transformation in Malaysia.
Keywords: Malaysia, high technology, technology policy, Multimedia Supercorridor, information and communication technology.

The Crisis of Communication: Videotext, the Internet and Innovation in France and the United States (pp303-315)
AMY L. FLETCHER (Lecturer, Political Science Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand)Abstract:
This article compares videotext in France and the United States, the two advanced industrialized countries where videotext was the most and least successful, respectively, in order to demonstrate how videotext as a techno-political project foreshadows the explosive growth of the Internet as the dominant global communications platform. It draws upon the theory of network effects, in combination with a comparative analysis of both the institutional settings for research and development and political discourse, to explain how the interaction between state, market, and culture shaped network development and policy outcomes. Data are drawn primarily from official policy documents and trade journals from the era.
Keywords: Videotext, Internet, France, United States, policy, networks.

PhD Student Satisfaction with Course Experience and Supervision in Two Australian Research-intensive Universities (pp317-333)
GRANT HARMAN (Emeritus Professor, Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy, University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia)
Abstract:
Over the past decade, Australian universities have experienced a dramatic expansion in PhD enrolments and in the proportion of female PhD candidates. This article assesses how well two major research-intensive universities have coped with these changes, looking particularly at student course experience. Of particular concern are relatively low satisfaction ratings given by PhD students to their overall course experience, which appeared to stem largely from dissatisfaction with supervision. Females were decidedly more dissatisfied them males with both course experience and supervision. In turn, dissatisfaction with supervision by both male and female students appears to have stemmed from various factors, but particularly important were lack of easy access by students to supervisors because of high workloads, and weaknesses in supervision practice. Many younger PhD students had distinctively negative attitudes towards universities and academic careers at a time of declining government funding per student unit.
Keywords: PhD enrolments, course experience, supervision, student satisfaction, access to supervisors, part-time students, high academic workloads.

Globalization of Japanese Culture: economic Power vs. Cultural Power, 1989-2002 (pp335-345)
DAL YONG JIN (PhD Candidate, Institute of Communications Research, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA)
Abstract:
This article examines the reasons why Japanese cultural products have not penetrated other countries. It also explicates the recent trends in Japan's expansion of its cultural products and Japan's direct investment in the global cultural market to ascertain whether this new development is a sign that Japan is attempting to gain an important role in global communication. It concludes that Japan was not able to successfully build its communication power to a degree comparable to its status as the second largest economic power and its second largest media consumption market.
Keywords: cultural power, cultural market, cultural products trade, international communication, Japan.

R&D in the United States Department of Homeland Security (pp347-353)
KEI KOIZUMI (Director, R&D Budget and Policy Program, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Technology, and Congress, Washington DC, USA), JOANNE CARNEY (Director, American Association for the advancement of Science, Center for Science, Technology, and Congress), DAVID COOPER (Project Coordinator, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Center for Science, Technology, and Congress) & AL TEICH (Director, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Center for Science, Technology, and Congress)
Abstract: