CHAPTER 22— INDEPENDENCE VERSUS INTER- 

 DEPENDENCE 



A disturbing feature of the world of the mid-1970s is the widespread 

 and seemingly growing opposition between the forces of independence 

 and those of interdependence. Both forces appear to have great 

 potential for helping to solve the world's major problems. But if badly 

 managed in relation to each other or out of control, they may have 

 an even greater potential for destruction. 



Interdependence has many meanings. As the term is used in this 

 study, it signifies a dynamic condition in which the forces of growth 

 and change oblige the nations and peoples of the world to rely 

 increasingly upon each other for their security and welfare — though 

 relying no less (but rather more) upon themselves. Self-reliance, 

 mutual (bilateral) reliance, and common (multilateral) reliance are 

 all embraced in this usage of interdependence. Also implicit in this 

 usage is the need to achieve a workable balance between independence 

 and interdependence. Further implicit is the need for diplomacy to 

 mediate the growing intercourse among nations — the greater the 

 degree of interdependence in economic, environmental, security, and 

 other areas of human affairs, the greater the need for competent 

 diplomatic personnel, institutions, procedures, and, above all, under- 

 standing of the forces which are shaping today's and tomorrow's 

 world. (The last requirement applies beyond the Foreign Service, 

 the State Department, and the White House to the entire Govern- 

 ment, including both domestically and internationally oriented 

 departments.) *" 



The purpose of this essay is to draw insights from the 12 Science, 

 Technology, and American Dii>lomacy studies that bear on the 

 independence-interdependence dichotom}^ In particular, the role 

 of technology in fueling and in reconciling the opposition of the two 

 forces needs to be noted. In a more immediate sense, diplomacy is 

 the agent of reconciliation: can there be hope that enlightened di- 

 plomacy will bring about an Hegelian "higher synthesis" in which 

 the constructive values of independence and interdependence are 

 merged and their destructive potentials blunted? This question is 

 one with which the governments of the world's nations must come to 

 terms. 



Independence as an Historic Force 



The concept of independence is associated with such ideas as liberty, 

 self-determination, and self-reliance. A manifestation of independence 

 which has special relevance to this study is nationalism. 



<<2 It should he further nctcd that the terms independence and interdependence are used in this essay mainly 

 with reference to sovereign nation-states and their interrelationships. It will not escape the reader, however, 

 that many parallels exist with regard to the independence-interdependence spectrum in the inteiTelation- 

 ships of states or provinces, cities; a great variety of organizations other than governmental, and just individ- 

 ual people. 



(1809) 



