About two years ago, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the words glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) into the world’s vocabulary. These words have become symbols of hope for a fundamental change in East-West relations.
For scientists, glasnost is interpreted to mean improved communication, freer travel, and closer collaboration between researchers in the East and West. This message has been repeated by a wave of high-ranking delegations of Soviet; scientists in recent visits to the U.S. The visits have resulted in agreements on scientific exchanges and cooperation involving the Soviet Academy of Sciences,, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Institute of Medicine, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, among others.
But Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika have received a mixed response in eastern Europe. In particular, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) is the most stubborn opponent. The unfortunate result is that the Wall will likely remain a formidable barrier ...
