Information to users

Organization of the Study
For the United States, any change in the effect of
information flows - whether in gaining greater control, maintaining control or losing control - on policy highlights the importance of control of and access to information
content and its technologies. US policy and decision makers may not take into consideration the full ramifications of the global information arena as they discuss economic,
military and other social dilemmas.
4 For justifications of case study and comparative case study research, see Alexander George. 'Case Studies and Theory
Development: the Method of Structured, Focused Comparison" in P.G. Lauren, ed., Diplomacy: New Approaches in History, Theory, and Policy (New York: Free Press, 1979), pp. 43-68, and Harry
Eckstein. 'Case Study and Theory in Political Science" in Fred I. Greenstein and Nelson W. Polsby, eds., Strategies of Inquiry
(Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1975), pp. 79-137.
5 George, 'Case Studies and Theory Development," p. 50.
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Over the years, the US government has had a number of information policies, but has not maintained a coordinated information policy in the international arena. There have been ad hoc committees in both the executive and legislative branches, as well as groups within executive departments and agencies which have addressed specific situations, but only recently has there been an attempt to look at foreign information policy as an important focus in and of itself. The reason for this attempt to coordinate foreign information policy is that the nature of relations in the world has changed. It is now based much more on interactions as opposed to dictated actions. This change has come to be known as interdependence. An examination of interdependence will be a starting point for understanding the foundations of US information policy making.