Summarizes the status, organization, and themes of national research programs in information science. National plans from six countries are explored with respect to the planning organizations, content of national research plans, and desirable elements of a strategy for building the new discipline. (SW)

Discussion of the relationship between information and development in Third World countries highlights information systems development in four South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The impact of microelectronics technology, development theories, multinational corporations, international information agencies, and…