Safeguarding Defense Technology, Enabling Commerce: A New Balance in the New Economy, edited by Seth Cropsey, published by AEI Press, 2001

Denying critical military technology to potential adversaries is as important to America's security today as it was during the Cold War, but the export control regimen designed for the Cold War must be updated to take account of the quickened pace of technological change and globalization since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 "Sweeping change" is needed, writes AEI resident fellow Richard Perle in his extensive introduction to this study. Export controls must be focused more narrowly on technologies that are not already generally available around the world, while restrictions should be lifted from technologies such as computing that require freedom to flourish and provide the United States with both military and general economic benefits.

Unfortunately, purchased and stolen U.S. technology has accelerated the military development of hostile nations and nonstate actors. "We have already seen evidence," says author Seth Cropsey, "of what mischief the wicked, armed with the terrible, can cause." Our most important failure to guard our military edge involves China, a nation whose role in weapons proliferation means U.S. technology of mass destruction may be transferred to rogue states or terrorists.

Seth Cropsey is a director with the government affairs division of Greenberg Taurig. An officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, his past government service includes serving as deputy under secretary of the navy and assistant to the secretary of defense.

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Book Table of Contents:

Foreword: Richard Perle

   1. Introduction
   2. The Conflicts surrounding Export Controls
   3. The Cold War Experience
   4. Relaxing our Guard
   5. Slipping through the System
   6. Sold and Sold Again
   7. Toward a New Policy
   8. Finding America's Strategic Center
   9. The Case of the Computer
  10. A New Balance
  11. Recommendations

Appendix: Sensitive Technology Activity, 1998
Notes
About the Author

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