678 



that specialization may be of mutual benefit within the community of 

 nations. But to exploit in the field of technology tliis long-established 

 economic principle would require a conscious decision to abjure lead- 

 ership in favor of an international partnership in technological 

 progress. 



Finally, what are the policy resources the United States can bring to 

 bear on these issues of national strategy in technology? U.S. efforts 

 have been concentrated in fields of high technology in a reaction 

 against external threats; the result has been to assemble large organi- 

 zations in the fields of military, space, and atomic teclinologies. That 

 these fields continue to be important is not questioned. But in the de- 

 sign of a total national strategy of technology, the effect of their 

 being already on the scene in great numbers is to provide pressures 

 for the United States to keep on doing what it has been doing. Where 

 can objective analysis and innovative policy be found that can examine 

 alternatives or additions to the national program ? 



The Issues of Global Strategy in Technological Inncn^ation 



Examination of the history of a number of fields of technology has 

 demonstrated the tendency for technology to cross national boundaries, 

 to generate problems involving many nations, to offer opportunities 

 for general global benefit, and to effect profound changes in the world 

 scene for better or worse. Perhaps the most significant fact about tech- 

 nology is this force for interdependence among nations. 



Tlie philosopher, Kant, proposed the "Categorical Imperative," an 

 ethical principle to govern human behaAdor. It postulated that man 

 should "Act as if the maxim from which you act were to become 

 tlirough your will a universal law." In other words, one should 

 inquire of his actions as to what the effect would be if everybody did 

 them. Perhaps the same principle warrants examination as applied 

 to nations. Are there some general principles governing the develop- 

 ment, application, and sharing of technology that should be incor- 

 porated in a Technology Treaty ? 



Reference has been made to the growing cost and scope of some 

 fields or projects of technology : exploration of space, weather modifica- 

 tion, global resource surveys, and the like are examples. T\Tien projects 

 of this sort are not only costly but also inherently affect many nations, 

 would it be feasible to mobilize all interested nations in a joint en- 

 deavor ? For example, throughout all the literature on foreign assist- 

 ance runs the theme of the population explosion and what to do about 

 it. Examination of this problem would be a major function of the 

 U.S. International Development Institute the Peterson Report recom- 

 mended and the President has proposed to the Congress. The food/ 

 population balance and the threat of widespread starvation are pre- 

 dicted to become a major crisis of the late 1970s. A global strategy 

 mobilizing the teclmological resources of many nations, with general 

 funding support, and a central coordinating administration might 

 serve beyond the capabilities of any single nation to achieve a goal 

 or aA'ert a catrastrophe. Can the United Nations be used as an institu- 

 tion to devise a global strategy in the application of technology for 

 the betterment of all mankind ? The President has suggested the use 



