Preface<br > The editors and the sponsors ol this book address a subject that needs much<br > attcntion~national food policies as the setting for international food depend-<br > ency. We regard this book primarily as a way in which scholars of public pol-<br > icy-in lhis case， political scientists---can offer their insights on dais subject to<br > an interested audience that includes those who make food policy.<br > The world food situation is a product of interdependent food systems.<br > .Countries with developing agriculture as well as those with highly developed<br > systems depend upon food exports for income; and， increasingly， they also de-<br > .pend upon imports for adequate quantity and variety of food. Even in the de-<br > velopment of domestic agriculture， nations have been， and still are， very much<br > dependent upon others for capital， organizational energy， technology， anti<br > Skills.<br > This interdependence is achieved within an environment of national public<br > ~ polio es that "are predictably oriented to national and subnational group inter-<br > ~ ~ ests. One could say that interdependence is achieved within a highly flag-<br > mented protectionist policy framework.<br > The intent of this book is to examine that paradox， keeping in mind that a<br > i~ better understanding of the relationship between public policy and interdepend-<br >:， ency will enhance our capacity to assure sufficient supplies of food for the<br > ~world s expanding population. Both the editors anti sponsors of this book are<br > very much aware that decisions on food policy have bean and are being made in<br >7，. ~many governments. Directions lor food assistance are being， debated<br > everywhere. In 1985， for example， the U.S， Congress was confronted with the<br > " . i ~need to write a new farm bill. It also considered revisions of U.S. trade， dip-<br >:: Iomatic， fiscal， and monetary policies in ways that heavily impact upon the<br > ! [ 4J，S agricultural system. Confusion reigned. Domestic protectionism and<br > " iniernational interdependence werc sources of irreconcilable conflict. Euro-<br >!ii: cy haw，u ~rco ces， n~，on e~ers<br > .~ave sought more in|i)rmation on international liukages.<br > TO find our authors， we searched the scholarly literature， consulted leading<br > -~: "ii " e~，perls and exa n ned the "ccent and futu "e program agendas of academic con-<br > 7;~. " : ferences ofpo itical scientists economists， sociologists， and historians as well<br > : F~::: ~as~lhe interdisciplinary International Studies Association.<br >