American Technology Policy

Since the end of the Cold War, U.S. policymakers have faced the challenge of addressing the technological requirements of both economic competitiveness and national security. The changed international environment has provided the scope for American authorities to better support economic progress, which has then turned attention to the needs of the high technology industry. Promoting the technological objectives of competitiveness and security poses a daunting task as these objectives can differ significantly in terms of technological autonomy, the private sector's role, and the time frame involved. The difficulties inherent in addressing the technological requirements of both security and competitiveness are being exacerbated further by deepening technological globalization and the transnational processes of development, application, and diffusion that result. This volume analyzes the ongoing efforts of American authorities to balance the often-conflicting technological requirements of national security and economic competitiveness. It examines recent trends and developments in American technology policy as it strives to support high technology firms' efforts to succeed in the global market without undermining national security. American Technology Policythen considers issues of autonomy, relations between the American government and industry, and the time frame involved in formulating and implementing policy initiatives, in the context provided by deepening technological globalization. Though satisfying the ambitious American technological agenda will be difficult, it will be even more so for authorities to ignore the effort, given the likelihood that national security and economic competitiveness will remain crucial policy issues.