FACTORS HINDERING THE PROCESS OF RESEARCH IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
BY S. GHULAM RAZA

Research is a diligent and systemic process of investigation aimed at discovering, interpreting and revising facts. This intellectual investigation provides greater understanding of events and behavior of participants. In developed countries we see greater use of this technique in every field of work because they have perished the factors that hinder the use of this process and contributing to the betterment of their country.
On the contrary we observe that this process of research has not earned much currency in developing countries. Now question arises over here that what are the factors that hinder the process of research in developing countries? While scanning through the history of developing countries we get introduced with the factors which fairly hindered the process of research and these are:

• The lack of commitment and interest, generally on the part of the people.
• The non-democratic system of governance.
• Financial constraints and limited resources.
• Lack of skilled people.

As far as the lack of commitment and interest on the part people is concerned, we have witnessed that people of developing countries are very much reluctant to take interest in social problems. Although professionals such as academicians, intellectuals and others have conducted researches during their grooming period but when they enter the practical course of life, we do not see adequate interest on their part. If any one is taking interest, conducting research to investigate and discover real causes of problems, then he is not encouraged rather discouraged. It is pre-requisite for being a developed country that native intellectuals and researchers should play their role and contribute to reach the root causes of the problems of their native country. Second, it is necessary that other people should encourage these intellectuals and in this way the country will progress in proper manner.

It has been observed that mostly in developing countries there prevails the non-democratic system of governance. For instance in Pakistan people are facing the rule of military on other hand in many Arab States there exist the Monarch’s or King’s rule. These non-democratic systems discourage the research plans, particularly the social research; it is due to the facts and realities which a particular research may reveal. These non-democratic systems continue to reserve the scope and extent of research in different areas in order to conceal previous mistakes and wrong doings. Apart from dictators and monarchs the faction of bureaucracy has also been active in hindering this process of research which can unveil the truth and harm their interests. This practice of above mentioned factions have hindered and nullified the attempts towards the process of research.
As far as financial constraints and resources are concerned, these factors also hinder the process of research. In developing countries these factors have hindered the research activities at large extent because the resources available are very limited which are utilized by the authorities for the basic needs of masses. Research process requires abundance of financial resources which can assist to enhance the use of technology and make research more perfect. In this way it is justified to say that financial constraints have held back the research process from flourishing in the developing countries.

Last but not the least, lack of skilled people is a major factor hindering the process of research in developing countries. There are countries with abundance of financial resources but they are unable to initiate the research process because they do not have skilled people in their country. Saudi Arabia is a country with abundance of financial resource but yet we do not see any research activity over there. The reason for that is the lack of skilled people to carry out this diligent and systemic process of investigation. Apart from Saudi Arabia there are many other states which lack skilled population to carry out the process of research. It would be fair to say that people, in developing countries, should be given proper training in research process so that they can contribute to the development of their respective countries.

CONCLUSION

Keeping in view the above-mentioned observations the process of research is difficult to carry out, in developing countries, until and unless these hindering factors are not dealt at grass root level. The inhabitants of developing countries should resolve to indulge in the investigative courses to resolve the issues. The establishment of democratic system of Governance should be ensured, so that researchers and intellectuals can conduct their research in free environment and participate in development of their respective country. Countries with abundance of financial resources should concentrate their money in training their masses and developing the congenial environment for research oriented agendas. In this way developing countries will be able to progress to the level of developed countries.

M.A. (Final) First Semester, 2007, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi.

All content (C) Department of International Relations, Karachi University

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