32 



Here again, some departure from the outline has been unavoid- 

 able and probably desirable. The 6 cases have different authors and dif- 

 ferent content, and the subject matter has tended to determine the 

 organization and exposition of the findings. 



7. Illustrative Questions To Be Researched 



In documenting and analyzing the respective cases, authors were 

 guided by the following questions : 



(a) How was the problem identified and characterized? Was its im- 

 portance perceived at the outset, or did it go through an evolutionary 

 process? Was the problem correctly identified at first, or did it emerge 

 from initial concern for some different issue ? 



(b) How timely was the identification of the problem? Was it per- 

 ceived in time to take effective, constructive action or action after the 

 fact? How did the identification of the problem relate to the con- 

 temporary political climate and the climate of public opinion ? 



(c) What difficulties were encountered with communication in ap- 

 proaching and analyzing the problem ? Did technical content obscure 

 the political question or did political content obscure the technical 

 problem ? 



(d) What difficulties were encountered in separating, and giving 

 separate treatment to, the technical and political aspects? Were the 

 decisionmakers able to coordinate the treatment of both together? 



(e) What was the nature of the decision, and how did it relate to the 

 various possible alternatives available ? Were the various alternatives 

 fairly evaluated? Were the decision criteria appropriate to the prob- 

 lem ? Were all voices heard ? 



(/) How timely was the decision? Did the technical difficulties delay 

 action unnecessarily ? Were opportunities lost ? 



(g) How stable has the decision proved to be? Were the intended 

 purposes accomplished ? Have alternatives emerged subsequently that 

 later opinion would have preferred ? 



(h) How effective was the decisionmaking process used? Did it deal 

 comprehensively and accurately with the alternatives, their technical 

 assessment, and their political evaluation ? 



8. Enumeration of the Cases Researched 

 The 6 cases chosen for study are as follows : 



(1) The international control of atomic energy. — The events follow- 

 ing the initial use in warfare of atomic weaponry, and the evolution of 

 the Acheson report and the Baruch plan. 



(2) Commercial uses of atomic energy in Europe. — Events sur- 

 rounding the Eisenhower initiative for nuclear sharing, the evolution 

 of the International Atomic Energv Agency, and the events that re- 

 sulted from these actions. 



(3) The International Geophysical Year. — Interactions of the In- 

 ternational Council of Scientific Unions, national scientific institu- 

 tions, and national governments. Origins of the program. Conduct of 

 the planning process. The roles of the Department of State, the Na- 

 tional Academy of Sciences, and the National Science Foundation. As- 

 sessment of t lie scientific and political consequences. 



(4) The Mekong Regional Development Proposal,— Events that led 

 to the proposal by President Johnson for a comprehensive, integrated 

 multinational, aid program for Vietnam, as an initiative to end the 



