816 



-40- 



III. Institutions and Policy Process 



Several themes run through the issue areas discussed above that bear 

 directly on institutional and process problems of the U.S. Government in 

 relation to the international consequences and use of science and technology. 

 The most common theme can be summarized under the general observation that the 

 international dimension of policy — the international issues, effects, 

 opportunities and relevance — are inadequately reflected in the policy 

 process throughout the government, and that the formal institutions of 

 government militate against Its more effective recognition. Though this 

 observation may be valid for many of the responsibilities of government, it is 

 particularly, and surprisingly, intensive in science and technology matters. 



Other themes that emerged related to the need for more effective 

 integration of science and technology aspects in many policy areas, including 

 more mechanisms for effective analysis and anticipation of future implications 

 of science and technology; and the need for new national and international 

 institutions. Some comments on each are in order. 



A. International Dimension in Policy 



The historical development of the U.S., its geographical position, and its 

 enormous resource base, all led naturally to a system dominated in 

 institutional form and political organization by domestic considerations. 

 Evolution of the system in response to the new global role of the U.S., and to 

 its changed dependencies on others, has been slow and halting, notwithstanding 

 the enormous sums of public money allocated for purposes dictated by 



