Preface

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part designs to respond primarily to two over-arching themes of the WIDER country study series on the 'Management of Change'. First, it is to extract some meaningful lessons especially for the developing countries of today in regard to how to tide over the recurrent disturbances in their development process. Second, it is to 'demythologize' the great success stories about post-war Japan with a view to gaining new insight into the role of public policy in industrial and technological development. It is intended to look into the nature of the heritage from pre-World War II developments which seems crucial in comprehending the 'initial setting' of technological and institutional capacity in the post-war period. Consequently, the account of the post-war development starts with stressing some of the elements of continuity.