7304 : International relations on the Planet Earth / by David J. Finlay and Thomas Hovet

A "loving fear," Gunder Anders has written, is "not fear of the danger ahead but for generations to come." This spirit underlies our assessment of international relations-the panorama of interrelated transactions among gov ernments, organizations, and individuals across national boundaries, which continually determine the future shape and form of life on the planet earth. The future, we believe, is a sacred trust held by present generations.

The only known future is uncertainty, despite expectations of catas trophe or beliefs that events to come will vary only in degree from past continuities and discontinuities. Yet the future is not an abstract concept. It is assuredly determined by the recognized and unrecognized implications of the decisions and actions of governments, organizations, and individuals in their separate but inclusive international relations. Each day in a multi tude of ways we make decisions that contribute to the construction of the future. But are they choices that will build a world environment people want? Or are they "good" by some other standard?

We believe that the study of international relations should be concerned with the multiplicity of choices and decision-options that governments and individuals face in interrelated national and international problems. At the very least, we should become clear about which futures we do not want, for example, extinction as a species through nuclear radiation or starvation. Beyond that process of elimination, however, we must begin to design pref erable futures. Present generations must ask what prescriptive measures are necessary now if mankind is to meet current, basic needs and thrust for ward toward a fuller and richer life than past generations have known. The past may be rich and instructive, but preoccupation with history can obscure the task of constructing the future.