ISSN-0972-9445
Emerging Trends in Development Research
Vol. 33, No. 1&2, 2026, 27-40
Technology Transfer and Dependencies: Media Narratives in Post-Colonial India
Aastha Thakur
M.A. (Sociology), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, aastha95thakur19@gmail.com
Abstract
India’s unique position in the global geopolitics is shaped not only by its recurrent tensions with its immediate neighbours- Pakistan and China, which sometimes lead to armed conflict but also by its strategic engagement with the Global North. Technology Transfer from the Global North, particularly in the form of weapons, has emerged as a central aspect of India’s efforts to protect its national interests. These transfers raise essential concerns related to sovereignty and neo-imperialist tendencies. With the rapid spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) around the world, both mainstream and social media now play a significant role in shaping perceptions of such technology transfers. In this context, it becomes crucial to study the nature of these technology transfers and their media representations to uncover different kinds of prevalent narratives.
This paper engages with three questions. First, how has the technology transfer to India unfolded in the postcolonial period under globalisation? Second, in what ways have these technology transfers led to the production of neo-imperialist tendencies? Third, what narratives are being constructed by the mainstream and social media in India around such technology transfer, especially in the context of India’s relations with Pakistan and China? For this paper, technology transfer refers to the transfer of technology to enhance a nation-state’s military capacity. The inquiry draws on Wallerstein’s World System Theory to understand the imperialistic undercurrents and power differentials in the technology transfers. Stuart Hall’s theory of media representation is utilised to analyse how media construct narratives around these technology transfers.
The inquiry utilises secondary sources of data, including Indian newspaper articles, televised debates, and social media platforms such as independent YouTube channels (not affiliated with mainstream media houses), Twitter threads, and online blogs. Critical discourse analysis is employed to analyse the data, focusing on the words, metaphors, and rhetoric used to describe these technology transfers. The study argues that technology transfer from the Global North has entrenched India in core-periphery dynamics, which reflects the legacy of British imperialism. Furthermore, there exist differences in the narratives constructed in mainstream and social media. Mainstream media presents these technology transfers as evidence of national prowess and competitiveness in military strength vis-a-vis Pakistan and China. In contrast, social media produces a fragmented narrative ranging from hyper-nationalist celebrations to critiques of the dependency these transfers create for India.
Keywords: Technology Transfer, World System Theory, Media Representation Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis
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