Given the continuing insistence of international agencies on the complexity and urgency of the world crisis situation, it is unnecessary to summarise this point here (2). In response to recognition of this world problematique a new generation of perceptive studies is now emerging. What is surprising is that they stress similar points which are relevant to the objectives of any international documentation system.

Given the current period of budgetary crisis in the international organisation community and elsewhere, it may well be asked whether consideration of "the utilisation of international documentation" at this time can lead to significant conclusions. The report of the 1972 Symposium indicates a range of user problems which remain valid (1). Budgets have however been contracted rather than expanded since then. Further the hopes for major inter-agency information exchanges, particularly at the computer level, have been largely abandoned or focused on narrowly specialised domains.

Sections of this Article (accessed via the links on the right)

Sections of this Article (accessed via the links on the right)

• Societal Learning and the Erosion of Collective Memory: a critique of the Club of Rome Report (1980)
• Functional Classification in an Integrative Matrix of Human Preoccupations (1982)

Introduction

Introduction

Development Forum (published by the UN Centre for Economic and Social Information/ OPI) in its latest issue (November- December 1978) reproduces a text by Jean Ripert, Under-Secretary-General in charge of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs. The editors introduce the text (reproduced in this issue on pages 123-456) with the paragraph:

Printed in Transnational Associations, 1979, 11, pp. 543-545

Presented at a meeting on Forms of Presentation (Geneva, 1980) of the Goals. Processes and Indicators of Development project of the United Nations University. Previously printed in Transnational Associations, 1983, 3, pp. 124-125

Sections of this Article (accessed via the links on the right)

• Minding the Future: a thought experiment on presenting new information (1980)
• Principles of the Conscientized International Expert: political correctness in international initiatives (1979)
• Mobilization of Public Opinion: yesterday's response to today's problems (1979)
• A new global organizational order
• Displacement of the wood by the trees

The work on the recent papers collected here was largely associated with the forms of Presentation sub-project of The Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development (GPID) project of the United Nations University. Many of the themes had however been explored in earlier papers which are also reproduced here when appropriate.