The scientific-technical potential of the Baltic States and their possibilities for co operation with Europe require in-depth, specific analysis. With the deterioration of the structures of science and technology of the former Soviet Union, the severance of communications with former clients, industry and science and technology, the Baltic States - the leaders of the former Soviet Union in this area, faced a difficult new situation. The government budgets of these countries, due to economic decline, are not capable of financing scientific research and project studies, and industry has lost a large part (in some branches this loss reaches even 2/3 or more) of its potential, losing both funds and interest in the sciences. The conversion of industry in the Baltic States is tied with the whole of its restructurisation, which still has not attained more precise directions for a new specialization or connections to the international market. The earlier dominant branches, such as machine production, electro-technology, radio-technology and the electronics industry, require essential modernization, which is possible only through co-operation with other developed countries, especially with the EU and NATO countries. This co-operation could include new mobilized capacities of science and technology. A longer period of stagnation and separation may adversely affect these capacities and lead to their dilution and weakening, due to the "brain drain" of more qualified scientists and specialists to the commercial sector, which does not require high intellectual levels.

Autorentext
Elmar Altvater, geb. 1938 in Kamen, ist Professor i.R. für Politikwissenschaften an der Freien Universität Berlin und Mitglied des wissenschaftlichen Beirats von Attac.

Klappentext

The Eastern European countries, the Baltic States in particular, are facing difficult problems in the course of their economic and political transition: industrial decline, unemployment, institutional change, conversion of industries, etc. But most Eastern European states have available a well-developed human capital, so that scientific and technical cooperation with western states can facilitate the resolution of parts of these problems. The contributors to Transformation, Cooperation, and Conversion address their analytical findings and proposals to political decision makers in the East and West. The book provides new insights into the processes of transition and transformation and is therefore useful to all those who are scientifically or politically engaged in East-West relations.

Inhalt
Mechanism for Scientific Technical and Industrial Co-Operation Between Central, Eastern and Western Europe.- The Problems and Prospects for Lithuanian Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Developing Industry and Infrastructure.- Lithuanian Scientific Potential: New Tasks and Problems of European Integration.- City Planning in a New Geopolitical Situation: The Case of Vilnius.- Conversion of Military Industry and Other Military Facilities in Latvia.- The Restructurisation of Estonian Industry.- Conversion Problems of the Polish Defence Industry.- Mechanisms and Perspectives for the Conversion of the Polish Arms Industry.- New Priorities in Sciences, Technology and Industry of the Republic of Belarus.- The Transfer of Intellectual Potential: Positive and Negative Externalities.- Mastering Russian Technologies and Their Presentation to the Western Market: The Possible Role of the Baltic Countries.- The Scientific-Technical Potential of the Kaliningrad Region and the Conversion of Its Industry.- The Utilisation of University Potential and Co-Operation in Europe.- Conversion as a Task for the Actors in Defence Enterprises.- Conversion Policies in an International Perspective: German Policies in the Baltic Sea Region.- Transformation and the World Market. Western Integration and Eastern Transition.- The Development of Security and Economy in the Baltic Sea Region.- Name Index.