789 



-13- 



airbus, lEA projects, coal liquefaction until this year) have demonstrated it 

 can be done. Greater willingness of the U.S. bureaucracy to look outside the 

 U.S. and recognize the competence and knowledge available elsewhere, and the 

 greater experience the bureaucracy would attain through making the effort, 

 would be substantial additional benefits of forcing the pace of international 

 cooperation. The forms of cooperation (bilateral, trilateral, OECD) all need 

 to be examined for each case, though the OECD is the logical organization in 

 which to lay the groundwork and establish a framework among Western 

 countries. Increased attention to genuine international technological 

 cooperation ought to be an importance task of the 1980' s. 



2. North/South Science and Technology Issues 



It was noted in the introduction that the differential ability to acquire 

 and exploit technology is a major determinant of the strikingly different 

 economic situation and prospects of nations of the North and South, and one of 

 the prime sources of the political disputes among them. Those very 

 differences in technological capability, however, are potential levers that 

 provide opportunities for constructive assistance and cooperation with high 

 potential payoff for all involved. Can this nation grasp those opportunities, 

 which play to its strongest suit — its technological strength?2 



The fate of developing countries in economic, political and military terms 

 in coming years will nave a great deal to do with international political 



^Another paper in this series (C. Weiss) is devoted exclusively to 

 this subject of science, technology and development. 



