The_Open_Door_deel1

CHAPTER 11
Introduction
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THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY AND
THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF MANPOWER 1900 - 1979
Whereas the availability of labour, of natural resources
including land and water, and of capital constitute an economy's
productive capacity, the key to a full and rational utilization
of these assets is provided by a well-trained (and healthy)
labour force, the existence of infrastructural facilities such as
transportation networks and communication systems, and
efficiently operating government institutions which supervise or
in some cases control these (productive) activities.
The decision to make more and better use of the country's
potential was taken in the case of Liberia at a stage when
neither manpower, nor infrastructure and (government)
institutions were developed (see Chapter 2). This partly explains
the historical decision to make use of foreigners through the
introduction of an Economic Open Door Policy. Another reason for
the introduction of an Open Door Policy was the necessity felt to
safeguard the country's territorial integrity and political
souvereignty. However, the invitation to and the installation of
foreign investors, notably the first major one (Firestone),
eventually greatly endangered the nation's political souvereignty
(see Chapter 3 and 10). This was partly caused by the country's
underdevelopment and weaknesses, partly by the socio-political
structure of the country's leading and dominant elite, the
Americo-Liberians, and partly by the nature of this foreign
investment which made some kind of political control over the
host Government imperative (see Chapter 3).
It almost goes without saying that an invitation to foreign
investors to fill a gap in a (developing) country can only be
explained or justified when at the same time long-term
objectives are formulated by the host country to develop its
manpower and to create and develop the necessary infrastructure
and institutions whose absence or underdevelopment inhibited the
exploitation and the use of the country's productive capacity by
its nationals.
None of the Administrations which Liberia has had since the
concept of an Economic Open Door Policy was introduced ever
presented a coherent over-all Development Plan which aimed at
making the presence of foreign investors redundant (see Chapter
10). This again is to a great extent explained by the sociopolitical
structure of the country's elite which would have
imperiled its dominant position by making the country
independent of foreigners (1).