We all know what a white paper looks like but where did it come from? As someone who loves writing, I’m always curious to discover where words come from. One that always bugged me was white papers. Why white? I did some digging around to discover where they came from. Here’s the scoop.
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In this article, we’ll look at the history of the white paper, why it was so called, and how it has evolved over the years.
Part of the confusion is that there are two types of white papers:
One suggestion is that White Papers may have developed from so-called “Blue Papers” in 19th century Britain; the report’s cover was blue. These legislative documents were delivered by Government for discussion in Parliament.
However, if the material for a Blue Paper was too light or informal, it would be published with white covers instead. In time, these were simply referred to as White Papers.
The term has a slightly different meaning in the US, where government white papers refer to Background Report.
Green PapersIn addition to white and blue papers, you can also find green papers. These are most common in Great Britain, Ireland and the United States.
What is a green paper?
This is a specific type of government report that outlines a ‘potential’ line of action. For example, before the law is changed, the Government might issue a green paper describing how the law will be changed, who will be affected, and what one needs to know when it’s introduced.
European Commission Green PapersWhen the European Commission publishes a green paper it is intended as a ‘discussion document’ to stimulate debate on a particular topic.
The purpose of a green paper is to encourage interested parties to contribute to the dialogue and share their knowledge, insights or reservations.
Following this round of consultation, it may evolve into a formal white paper where an official set of proposals are clarified.
Canada Green PaperIn Canada, a green paper is an official document sponsored by the Crown. These are discussion documents issued by the government for public debate, not official policy documents.
Famous White PapersBefore technology white papers became synonymous with marketing efforts, certain government white papers became well known, such as:
Conclusion
It seems that white papers are a by-product of blue papers, which ironically don’t exist anymore. They have first cousins in the Green Paper; I’ve heard Grey papers mentioned but couldn’t find much information.
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