The SDI and American Research and Development: Tonic or Toxin?

The SDI and American Research and Development Tonic or Toxin? Among other criticisms, opponents of the Strategic Defense lnitiative (SDI) have warned that it will distort American military research and development programs by soaking up vital resources that are needed by other projects, leaving them starved of talent and infrastructure. Advocates of SDl have answered that investment in SDl R&D will produce spinoff discoveries that will significantly enrich other civilian and military research and development projects, leaving them with a net benefit. To illuminate this dispute, the editors of International Security have asked three distinguished experts to comment on the following questions: (7) What will be the scope of the R&D effort that the SDI will require, if it comes to fruition? (2) What negative effects will this R&D effort have on other American military and civilian R&D? Will other R&D be drained or distorted? (3) What positive effects will SDI R&D have on other types of military and civilian R&D? What beneficial spinoffs could it generate? We invited them to focus on any of these questions or on others they believed important. We are pleased to present their replies. -The Editors Intmtional Security, Fall 1986 (Vol. 1 1 , No. 2) 0 1986 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 176 ...