ABSTRACT
Recent efforts by the United States to prevent the transfer of technology to unfriendly countries have focused increasingly on the desire to control the transfer of information or technical “know-how.” Traditionally, information associated with the development and production of most new technologies has been readily available in this country. It forms the basis upon which new discoveries are made and helps the U.S. to maintain its lead in the technological race. At the same time, however, some U.S. government officials have come to view the very accessibility of this material as a significant security risk. It permits Soviets and others to take advantage of our open society to learn the latest developments in science and technology without having to undergo their own lengthy process of research and development. A difficult dilemma is thus presented for our policymakers: Can we control the transfer of information to our adversaries without causing irreparable harm to our own technological base?
