Post-War Economy: Prioritising the Implementation of Knowledge-Based Economy

Prof. Dr. Fikri Kabashi

Once this unfortunate war ends, and as we begin the reconstruction and rebuilding phase within a comprehensive economic reform framework, the focus should be on actively transitioning toward a knowledge-based economy.
The concept of the “knowledge economy” has emerged through three major transformations in human society: from agricultural society to industrial society, and finally, to the knowledge society. These shifts can be summarised as follows:

First Transformation: Agricultural Society

This revolution began along the banks of great rivers like the Nile, the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the Amazon, where fertile soil facilitated the growth of agriculture.

Second Transformation: Industrial Society or “Machine Economy”

The transition from agriculture to industry was driven by factors like population growth, limited natural resources, and an inability to meet the growing demands for essentials. This shift necessitated manufacturing processes, with the machine becoming the foundation of factories and the factory the pillar of industry.

Third Transformation: Knowledge Society or “Knowledge Economy”

The third shift, marked by the scientific or knowledge revolution, occurred after World War II. Knowledge began transforming into a productive force, and the gap between invention and application shrank rapidly. For example, the transistor was commercially utilised only five years after its invention. As Daniel Bell noted in 1967, the average time from invention to commercial application dropped from 30 years in the 1880-1919 period to 16 years between 1919-1945, and then to 9 years. This shift moved innovation from individual creators to institutions like universities, which now lead in producing technological and innovative industries.

Several terms describe this knowledge-driven economy, such as the information economy, internet economy, digital economy, and electronic economy, all referring to the same concept: a knowledge-based economy.

Applying This Framework to Sudan

Historically, Sudan has been an agricultural society, with evidence suggesting a deep-rooted agricultural tradition. Sudan began transitioning to an industrial society in the 1960s and 1970s, earlier than some neighbouring countries like Ethiopia. Examples include Sudan’s exports of leather and leather products, such as shoes from the well-known Bata company, which met local demand and provided a surplus for export. In cotton production, textile factories owned by entrepreneur Khalil Osman stand as a testament to early industrial activity. Similarly, sectors like ready-made garments and oilseed processing blossomed, placing Sudan ahead of many regional neighbours in Africa and the Arab world.

Given this historical development, Sudan should have introduced the knowledge economy, especially with its established universities and research institutions, particularly agricultural research. However, most of Sudan’s current exports are raw materials—leather, oilseeds, and cotton—exported in their primary form.

The export of raw Sudanese products demands careful study to understand the obstacles that halted industrial advancement. Sudan needs to focus on industrialising its agricultural products to achieve self-sufficiency and to prepare products for export, all supported by rigorous scientific research conducted by skilled university researchers. Furthermore, the executive authorities need to recognise that the detachment of research institutions from development efforts has clearly hindered Sudan’s progress.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=2201