861 



Congress of Scientific Unions, and by careful analysts such as Harrison Bro". n.'" We 

 now see that global trends— including food supplies, environmental foices. and 

 energy demamls— require global action. Recfnt global assessments reveal a long list 

 of urgent needs for research that would answer key policy relevant scientific 

 questions and provide new technologies. >et any global follow through on new 

 programs— for clarifying assessments and corrective actions— will demand greater 

 popular understanding and higher levels of political will and financial commitment. 

 UNCSTD could further deepen the sense th;it these strikingly global perspc stives are 

 the only responsible ones for -the future. 

 The second line of prospects for progress at UNCSTD emerges out o! the new 



'emphasis in many LDCs on coupling "self reliance" " with complementary inter- 

 national activities. Seen most vividly in recent changes of policy by the Peoples 

 Republic of China, this strategy puts building national capabilities— rather than 

 demanding international assistance— at the top of national priorities." Hut it also 

 welcomes international commerce. No longer so rigidly doctrinaire, the PHC and the 

 Group of 77 assign "national obstacles" the highest place, while working out 

 pragmatic agreements for foreign technical institutions. To the extent that this more 

 open and realistic spirit can flourish at Vienna, the discussions could take ott. 



Third, and more speculative, lively progress may flow from the m\\ private 

 networks that could become more useful than the many cumbersome goMTnmental 

 and UN organi/.ations which probably have taken on too many tasks during the past 

 two decades. Operating flexibly and keeping onlv a loose partnership v.:th official 

 channels, private institutions (both proht-making and nonprofit) can be the most 

 effective in some circumstances. Further encouragement may be drawn from the fact 

 that certain private initiatives have been catalyzed and fostered by the pieparations 

 for UNCSTD. 



Optimism and Science 



Most of this paper has emphasized a skeptical view of preparatuns for the 

 Conference and a practical approach in applying science and teclmology to 

 development. To round eait each of these perspectives, twci points of . xplanation 

 should be recorded. One point is that a kernel of optimism is essential. 1 he other is 

 that science is practical. 



There is evidence, as we have seen, for skepticism about many elements of the 

 Conference's preparations. There is no reason to paper over the difticultii s that have 

 been and will be encountered. Difficulties arise from the genuine complexity ot the 

 subject, the understandable political and economic conflicts among partn ij^ints. and 

 the unwieldy international communications among governments .mtl private 

 institutions 



Lest there be misunderstanding m these circumstances, skepticism si oiilcl not be 

 allowed to produce pessimism and "tlo nothing ism." " Quite the contr.irv. Many 

 people have been trving hard to li\e up to the high stakes. There is enough time left 

 to make Vienna a successful turning point. Whether Vienna is as successful as one 

 might hope — measured against whatever criteria one miyht have- virtually 

 everyone is convinced that the subjects on its agenda will be central m the years 



