892 



which benefited from, participated in, or contributed to UNESCO activi- 

 ties in education, science, culture, and communications. The objective 

 was to produce, in light of the information gathered, an analysis of 

 overall political and management trends in the Organization. 6 some 

 12 U.S. government agencies contributed to this US/UNESCO Policy Review 

 from their special perspectives, as did the U.S. National Commission 

 for UNESCO and the National Academy of Sciences. The organizations 

 concerned with science programs reached the conclusion that the United 

 States should continue its participation in UNESCO. 7 



However, the State Department's own analysis of political and 

 management trends provided the basis inter alia for the decision to 

 recommend U.S. withdrawal. 



At the same time, the Department's US/UNESCO Policy Review stated 

 that "UNESCO science activities generally satisfy U.S. objectives and 

 priorities." It went on to note five consequences of withdrawal: 



• U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO science activities, if not compen- 

 sated by alternative forms of cooperation, could lead to a significant 

 reduction in the direct access of the U.S. scientific community to 

 important data bases, localities, and scientific resources worldwide. 



• The decrease in income from dues would damage UNESCO's ability 

 to meet the U.S. objective of assistance to LDCs (less developed 

 countries) in developing scientific capabilities and infrastructure, 

 and to perform the successful international scientific projects which 

 UNESCO has sponsored. 



• The United States would lose its present access to an important 

 international framework for scientific cooperation and data gathering. 



• UNESCO provides the possibility of scientific exchange with 

 certain countries with whom we maintain limited contact, withdrawal 

 would make such cooperation more difficult. 



• The United States would no longer be eligible for membership on 

 the International Coordinating Council of the Program on Man and the 

 Biosphere, the Coordinating Council of the International Hydrological 

 Program, and the Intergovernmental Council for the General Information 

 Program. 6 



Given these consequences, it is necessary to explore alternative 

 ways of pursuing U.S. objectives of international cooperation and 

 collaboration in the science area. As a partial contribution to the 

 effort, this report presents assessments of the impact on U.S. science 

 of a withdrawal from UNESCO and suggests possible alternative arrange- 

 ments for assuring continued U.S. association with selected UNESCO 

 programs. 



