27 



Formai, Aspects of the Study 



./. Scop* and Lim itations 



As noted earlier, this study was undertaken at the request, in 1969, of 

 the then Subcommittee on National Security Policy and Scientific 

 Developments of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (now the 

 Subcommittee on International Security and Scientific Affairs of the 

 House International Relations Committee) . Thus, the focus throughout 

 is on the kinds of issues and outcomes that are of particular interest 

 to the committee and involve institutional mechanisms or policy con- 

 siderations particularly amenable to congressional review and per- 

 haps action. The substantive issues chosen for study are of importance 

 in terms of the recent past (since World War II), and involve ques- 

 tions in which some consensus has already been reached. Some em- 

 phasis has been placed on the roles, policies, and problems of U.S. 

 Government agencies participating in international scientific and 

 technological programs, and of international organizations (both gov- 

 ernmental and nongovernmental) in which the United States partici- 

 pates officially or nonofficially. 



Subjects have been avoided in which the essence of the situation in- 

 volves extensive analysis of information denied to the general public, 

 although some classified information was reviewed for purposes of 

 background. Covert international activities, such as of the Central In- 

 telligence Agency, and Department of Defense international scien- 

 tific and technological policies and programs, also are not treated. 



2. Methodology 



The methodology used in this project is the case study approach. 

 By examining a selected set of cases and issues illustrating interac- 

 tions of science and technology with diplomacy, it may be possible 

 to derive insights for the Congress on how to devise policies and 

 mechanisms to improve U.S. resources for the management of these 

 interactions. 



Use of the case study method enables different researchers to use 

 common and accepted concepts important in explaining decisionmak- 

 ing, and it facilitates critical review of the findings of each case by stu- 

 dents of policymaking. It also permits the surfacing of similar ob- 

 stacles, problems, and inefficiencies at the intersections of the Depart- 

 ment of State and other institutions, governmental or scientific, with 

 an international program content. 



The case study method, in this project, is used to assess two kinds . 

 of interaction of science and technology with diplomacy ; one episodic 

 (called "cases"), the other continuing (called "issues"). The subjects 

 to be studied were chosen to provide an appreciation of the ways in 

 which modern science and technology have altered the environment, 

 the goals, the substance, the methodology, the organization, and the 

 personnel qualifications of American diplomats. The choice of items 

 for study has been guided by the following considerations : 



(a) To point the way to a strengthening of support of the 

 diplomatic process over a broad spectrum of problems salient 

 and meaningful to the Congress ; and 



(b) To demonstrate the workings of the various administrative 

 mechanisms that contribute to diplomacy, including factfinding, 



