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10/17/1966 - O.E.C.D. and Science Aid: A Case History by C. H. G. Oldham

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS CHGO Mid The Avenue O E C D Science Aid K_ngston Lewes A Case History Sussex October Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte My final Institute Fellow spent seconded Scientific Directorate Organisation Economic Co operation Development The purpose enable experience inter national organisstion interested problems science policy developing countries It proved extremely interesting provided useful insight problems frustrations experienced secretariat international organisation As 171ustration which O E C D functions I propose describe history project which I partially concerned It considered particularly important project member countries illustrative functioning international organisation attitudes various countries problems science development It perhaps superfluous newsletter opinions expressed purely personal necessarily reflect official O E C D policies Before delving details project useful provide somei general background information First recall O JE C D nineteen European countries U S A Canada Japan It established after Second World War organisation which successfully administered Marshall Plan It continued after completion Marshall Aid organlsatlon dedicated economic growth Europe More recently reorganlsed includes developed communis countries world In reorganisation science ducation conomic development given formal recognition within Organisation creation separate Directorate Scientific Affairs Initially Directorate channelled through committees Committee Scientific Research Committee Scientific Manpower The first committee concerned operative research problems science policy In addition studies science policy initiated Committee Scientific Research O E C D played meeting Ministers Science which Paris This followed second meeting years later these meetings special studies important science policy issues commissioned interim committee which prepared Ministerial meetings For meeting January these special studies resulted reports significance policies governments fundamental research allocation resources science stimulation innovation international operation sclence social sciences The success interim committee showed vslne having committee delegates special responsibilities matters science policy their borne countries Therefore following recent Minis terial meeting decided split responsibilities Committee Scientific Research replace committees The first responsible science policy matters second operative research I mention these matters detail because important understanding operation Secretariat No under taken unless officially sanctioned Coittees which member countries represented It frequently debatable point whether iniative particular study members committee Secretariat itself In experience vantage point Secre ariat would majority projects originated Secretariat The techniques lobbying scheming particular country propose particular study valuable educational lessons learned during Paris However study proposed approved incumbent Secretariat carry project One further piece background information O C D effect contains among members communist donor countries world Recognition special responsibilities which entails reflected establishment years Development Assistance Committee Development Center The former exists mainly ordinate activities O E C D members latter concerned education about development member under developed countries But O E C D mandate carrying operations member countries Just where question O E C D science science technology developing countries raised I unable ascertain Certainly there Secretariat memoranda subject least years But discussions official light gested policy implications science might subject background study discussion Ministerial Meeting This suggestion opposed eventually defeated primarily instigation Germans However suggested Committee Scientific Research might This appointed working party consider science report committee implications O E C D action Frofessor Bror Hexed Swedish Science Policy Council appointed chairman U S A Fra Britain Sweden Belgium Netherlands agreed partici It about I joined O E C D worked closely members Secretariat serve working party The first meeting scheduled Seotember early June began draft background paper It happened group Secretariat another involved project widely different backgrounds experience conclusion selence technology extremely important element development process sooner people developing countries possess their indigenous science learn solve their problems quicker their prospects Of development The background paper which prepared considered which donor countries could establish di_enos scientific capability developing o11tes nnbles transfer cience technology ionofneeiecentechno ovofespecialrelevance todevelopingcountries sugf_este working party should recommend Committee O E C D ember contries individually collectively should increase amount science context thought policy relate scientific development ectiv developing tries suggested mechanism operatlve research O E C D utllize solve problems particular relevance developing countries It intention reproduce science technology underdeveloped countries It thesis which grsally developed fifty newsletters Suffice strong science international action My purpose letter trace workings international organisation document government responses specific proje By June first draft background paper ready countries asked their delegates first meeting working party ubmit memoranda reviewing problems encountered providing science Immediately there anoutcry France Belgium maintained there insufficient which prepare meeting September The meeting therefore postponed until ovember enable French Belgians return their vacations prepare meetings However October evident French O E C D become involved science activities declined delegate Later agreed observer France source opgosition The Secretariat Development Assistance Committee concebned about cosidered encroachment domain In respects vali8 concern shown expertise interest stimulating studies science development would correct But contrary Secretariat Development Division adopted hostile stand This meant Science Policy Division rather artificially limit considerations policy implications science The meeting November I disappointing results The British adopted fencesittlmg attitude Americans project Dutch Swedes The Belgians noncommltal French observer quite hostile In unofficial comments Frenchman revealing whole meeting His concern France could become involved international science activities until recipient countrlss identified It pointed under discussion policy issues eciflc projects He quite clear France would stand interference outside developmen French speaking Africa frankest statements countries science I heard He extent reasons humanistic France Invested money research facilities French Africa wanted return Investment Franc wished French language alive interference other Countries Finally France baser economic political motives The countries marked degree enthusiasm study Netherlands Sweden national committees formulate CHGO their science POlicies The Swedish enthusiasm sharp retort delegate colonial powers suggested colonial powers administer their projects reason spend mOney project which would primarily teach countries Sweden It skilful manoeuvering Deputy Scientific Director O E C D anything salvaged It agreed working party would again interim Secretariat would revise background paper would prepare groundwork discussion specific operative research ventures tying advisory committee ECOSOC United Nations which prepared report applications science development When Professor Rexed reported Committee Scientific Research outcome meeting Germany asked working party For months pressure other Secretariat prevented further action project But May again after further discussions within Secretariat decided revise ground paper paying greater attention policy implications We benefit another O E C D meeting which December This meeting Directors Pilot Teams Science Development They several invited consultants discussed problems planning scientific research economic social objectives The O E C D pilot teams teams scientists economists engineers nationals countries concerned working years Turkey Greece Spain Italy Ireland Their science which would contribute effective their countries economic social goals This meeting helped crystalize thoughts demonstrated science technology motor development hence should feature programs greater extent hitherto For variety reasons seems popular It unpopular politicians immediate returns their investment Science investment It seems unpopular traditional economists perhaps because found satisfactory incorporating concepts technological change methodology develop planning It unpopular certain business reduction their exports developing countries embark science based industries Despite general unpopularity views Secretariat convinced their essential rightness proceeded prepsre meeting working party The Secretary General O E C D receptive interaction science technology development deserved greater hitherto privatelyquerled implications O E C D However science anything relatively insignificant aspects developmeht seemed repugnant Secretarist De velopment Division fought prevent major study program being launched At seemed likely Secretary General would appoint level group advise O E C D should opposition strong decided defer decision until Autumn In meantime Science Policy function Committee Scientific Research passed Science Policy Committee working group science orphan The second meeting working party therefore became informal meeting It thought however meeting could provide Science Policy Committee expression importance science might Committee future agenda It thought meeting might initiate program operative research projects special relevance developing countries Members Secretariat visited participating countries explain situation obtain specific proposals operative research I perhaps easiest rewarding assignment visiting The Hague Stockholm Dutch Swedish government officials Both these countries enthusiastically behind There little doubt these countries humanely motivated developed world appreciate major impact their international action The meeting July incidentally O E C D Only Netherlands Sweden represented first meeting working party The United States represented Colin McLeod Number President Office Science Technology At first I interpreted participation measure official American interest science developing countries However proved mistaken mption since McLeod expected meeting other commitments afternoon Thus meeting United States representative The meeting began statements chairman Deputy Director Department Scientific Affairs discussion Pilot Team activities It became apparent neither Americans British French Belgians Germans knowledge transpired first meeting working group andifact appeared havre little knowledge subject The Frenchman obviously briefed discussion The German briefed discussion anything responsibility Development Assistance Committe But amazing performance British delegate He assistant secretary Overseas Development Ministry charge research He admitting neither scientist economist administrator He disagreed strongly Secretariat views develop indigenous science developing countries stating scientists developed world could solve problems export solutions He believed developing countries needed better administrators He dldin ridicule Secretariat paper He followed Swedish delegate began stating administrator thought paper pieces problems science The Netherlands delegate again strong support The British delegate attack quite vitriolic shattered hopes salvaging positive action meeting With absence U S delegate afternoon session degenerated Secretariat attack viewpoint British An attack which Director Scientific Affairs British present British delegate spoke Th sitive proposal entire meeting Swedish delegate proposed international operative program research birth control By afternoon meeting fizzled completely Shortly afterwards chairman unusual personally visiting Secretary General O E C D reported meeting Thus O E C D disappointing finale My colleagues O E C D among brilliant dedicated We responded request member countries study implications science O E C D But combination house rivalries political motivations plain interest combined defeat program which sooner later ahead And later could The matter rests Secretary General O E C D He either accept majority members working party implied subject little interest should concern O E C D together group experts knowledge problem advise O E C D should If decides latter course important group mandate cross established administrative boundaries problem totality It should survey relative roles O E C D United Nations Smveral delegates O E C D meetings expressed their concern potential overlap United Nations activities Much concern probably unwarranted Full scale operations under developed countries quite clearly ponsibility United Nations should possible O E C D carry pilot scale experiments member countries invited The United Natio should willing ideas experiments groups national international O E C D COMICON which showed promise contributing being underdeveloped world I tried letter trace somewhat turbulent passage particular working party through internal mechanisms O E C D In unusual project necessarily typical working parties always Regardless eventual outcome O E C D experience discussions considerable value program research science developing countries which I beginning University Sussex Yours sincerely C H G Oldham Rec New York October