Exchange of Expertise: The Counterpart System in the New International Order

The vision of the New International Order emphasizes justice and equality. It also raises profound questions about the nature and future of the relationship between postindustrial and Third World countries. The counterpart system describes one aspect of this relationship: an expert from a postindustrial country teaches a special skill to a Third World national. In this collection contributors draw on political science, economics, education, sociology, history, and communications theory to illuminate the forces that shape the nature of the exchange of expertise between postindustrial and Third World countries. Each author raises theoretical points and offers practical observations about the future of this exchange―a critical point of contact--in the New International Order.

Irving J. Spitzberg, Jr., is dean of the colleges at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He was previously a fellow at the Institute of Current World Affairs in New York City, founder and chairman of the program in Policy Studies at the Claremont colleges, and consultant in adult education to the government of Kenya