Cover Osteuropa 1-2/2017

In Osteuropa 1-2/2017

Struggle of Ideas
U.S. Foreign Propaganda during the Early Cold War

Benno Nietzel


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

Under the auspices of “psychological warfare”, a new field of expertise came into being during the early Cold War. Regional and communication studies formed a close bond. Social scientists began to illuminate the structure of Soviet society in a systematic manner and marketed basic research as useful for “psychological warfare”. Scientific expertise competed with knowledge of public relations and the practical experience of veterans from the Second World War who had worked in propaganda. Political consulting based on basic research, however, found little resonance.

(Osteuropa 1-2/2017, pp. 153–162)