iii

Preface
This report summarizes the issues that arose and the discussions held during the
meetings of a 19981999 study group focusing on global governance of
information technology and biotechnology. The goal was to bring a policy
perspective to bear on a discussion of new technological developments through a
series of free-flowing and exploratory presentations and discussions.
An important part of this effort involved bringing together experts from many
different fieldsjournalists, policymakers, scientists, academics, business
peopleto discuss developments that will affect all of society. By bringing
together such a variety of people, the organizers hoped to see whether people
from different professions react differently to emerging technological
developments. Each study group meeting featured a presentation by a different
invited discussion leader, which either explored some aspect of information
technology or biotechnology development or examined the capability of human
nature or political structure to deal with new technology, followed by a
discussion.
This report presents the findings that emerged from these meetings. It addresses
a number of issues, with an emphasis on possible U.S. responses on a political or
social level to critical technology governance issues. The body of the report
summarizes the issues that emerged from the discussion. The appendixes distill
the content of the various presentations and discussions.
Francis Fukuyama of George Mason University and Caroline Wagner of RANDs
Science and Technology Policy Institute organized this study group and
conducted subsequent analysis, with the assistance of Richard Schum and Danilo
Pellitiere, graduate students at the George Mason University Institute for Public
Policy. Shaun Jones, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA),
Department of Defense, and Gerald Epstein, National Security and International
Affairs Division, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive
Office of the President, requested this study and provided guidance for this
project. However, the conclusions in this report are solely those of the authors
and should not be attributed to DARPA or OSTP.

iv

The Science and Technology Policy Institute

Originally created by Congress in 1991 as the Critical Technologies Institute and
renamed in 1998, the Science and Technology Policy Institute is a federally
funded research and development center sponsored by the National Science
Foundation and managed by RAND. The institutes mission is to help improve
public policy by conducting objective, independent research and analysis on
policy issues that involve science and technology. To this end, the institute

supports the Office of Science and Technology Policy and other Executive
Branch agencies, offices, and councils

helps science and technology decisionmakers understand the likely

consequences of their decisions and choose among alternative policies

helps improve understanding in both the public and private sectors of the
ways in which science and technology can better serve national objectives.

Science and Technology Policy Institute research focuses on problems of science

and technology policy that involve multiple agencies. In carrying out its mission,
the institute consults broadly with representatives from private industry,
institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit institutions.
Inquiries regarding the Science and Technology Policy Institute may be directed
to the addresses below.
Bruce Don
Director
Science and Technology Policy Institute

Science and Technology Policy Institute

RAND
Phone: (202) 296-5000
1333 H Street NW
Web: http://www.rand.org/centers/stpi
Washington, DC 20005
Email: stip@rand.org