A neo-Schumpeterian study of the developmental techno-politics of post-socialist Bulgaria and Kazakhstan

The thesis investigates the policy articulation of transformative development pathways from low value-added or resource-dependent economies to ones which are high value-added, knowledge-intensive, and catalysed by innovation in response to global techno-economic trends. Recognising the seminal role of policy discourse in shaping national development priorities and innovation policy spaces, the study theorises and empirically explores the utility of a two novel interrelated concepts: "innovation narrative articulation" and "multi-level policy space constitution," as part of an integrated analytical framework. The research also offers valuable theoretical, analytical and empirical insights into development studies, critical innovation studies, historical institutionalism and studies of Socio-Technical Transitions (STT) particularly regarding techno-politics in the context of economic catching up. Methodologically, the scholarly inquiry develops a novel, boundary-spanning, multi-dimensional framework for policy assessment in order to provide a comprehensive and systematic inquiry of the dynamic constitution of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policies (STIP). This framework incorporates insights from neo-Schumpeterian scholarship about National Innovation Systems (NIS), development studies, Science and Technology Studies (STS) and the Political Economy of Research and Innovation (PERI). The utility of this analytical approach is demonstrated through its application to cross-country and longitudinal assessments of national policy discourses. The research inquiry is operationalised through a novel empirical comparative case study of the policy space of Bulgaria and Kazakhstan, two post-socialist states pursuing foreign-led (by the European Union (EU)) and domestic-led modernization pathways, respectively. A process-tracing analysis examines the chronological unfolding of governmental techno-political discourses from 2003 to 2022, complemented by an analysis of NIS stakeholder discourses. The analysis presents a nuanced, multi-level longitudinal insights of policy spaces in the context of national innovation systems. The research highlights commonalities and differences in the two countries' innovation policy articulations. Both states’ narratives espouse technology-led catching up. Moreover, policy guidance, which explicitly recognises the systemic nature of innovation in a holistic manner is notably absent in both Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. The science and innovation dimension of both states' policy space is fragmented and incomplete. Bulgaria's STIP has become Europeanized and premised upon pan-European policy missions, yet challenges persist in adapting and implementing European policies within a national context. Kazakhstan has favoured a more gradualist and pragmatic approach recognizing a need for industrial-innovative development and economic diversification. Technocratic elites have championed narratives of leapfrogging and techno-fixes, often marginalizing socio-technical and political dimensions. The analysis reveals a dissonance between top-down techno-economic discourses and bottom-up stakeholder perspectives emphasizing the role of science-led, sustainable NIS. The thesis advocates for inclusive policies that conceptualize innovation as a pluralistic, political phenomenon, transcending narrow techno-centric and techno-economic perspectives. Given the historical legacies and unique contemporary challenges faced by post-socialist economies like Bulgaria and Kazakhstan, there is a need for adaptable multi-level policy frameworks, capable of supporting national catching up and sustainable development efforts. The study underscores the importance of developing endogenous innovation capacity - the ability of a country to cultivate its own innovation ecosystem, capabilities and context-specific solutions, rather than solely relying on external models or technology transfer.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Schivatcheva, Radostina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Saxena, Siddharth

• Bulgaria
• Development
• Innovation policy
• Kazakhstan
• Multi-level policy assessment
• National Innovation Systems
• Technology-led catching up

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/2e3f8c44-45e6-4d3d-a005-ff50ccb418ae/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.110519

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/371281