Peace Corps And Cold War Stratagems Of America:1960-1969

Abstract: Peace Corps, established by Kennedy's government, is a volunteer agency of the U.S. which sent teachers, doctors, nurses, farming specialists and so on to the developing countries from 1961 to work on issues ranging from agricultural technology to business development. The Peace Corps marked president Kennedy's "New Frontier" foreign policy towards the countries of The Third World. It was in the elements of Kennedy's thoughts of Cold War. In the Cold war, it was an important diplomatic instrument of the U.S. played against the socialistic bloc which was headed by Soviet Union. And it was subordinate to the "Peace Stratagem "of Kennedy and the "Great Containment Stratagem "of America. It embodied Kennedy's policies adjusted to the developing countries and played a significant part in changing the image of the U.S. in these countries and exporting its values to them as well. The Peace Corps was an efficient measure of the U.S. taken to enlarge it's power and influence to the countries of The Third World in the era of decolonization and it helped America to strengthen the domination and attraction to the developing countries. On the basis of the U.S. government's released-documents and related works of the western scholars, the paper will make a systematic analysis about the background, development, influence of Peace Corps, and it's status as well as functions in the Cold War. The thesis is made up of preface, body and concluding remarks. The preface introduces the academic research of the project domestically and abroad, the purpose and significance of the study. The body includes six parts: The first part is the focal point of the paper, it analyses the transformation of the Cold War's situation in 1960s and the corresponding adjustment of American foreign policies, then it reveals the background and origin of Peace Corps' ideal, tentatively explores the relationship between Peace Corps and the Cold War Stratagems. The second part explores the position of Peace Corps in president Kennedy's "New Frontier" foreign policy, the sociological theory and building process of Peace Corps. By introducing the organs and functions, the life conditions and working styles of volunteers and the development of Peace Corps in 1960s, the third part analyses the connotation of Peace Corps and it's actions in American diplomacy. The forth part analyses the nature of Peace Corps, and points out that it is an important tool of the Cold War. The last part sets forth the actions and effects of Peace Corps. In 1960s, the Peace Corps achieved it's three goals on the whole. In the Cold War, the hard working of volunteers promoted the development of economy, society, and culture in developing countries. Moreover, by spreading American values, development pattern and culture, it improved the bad image of U.S. in the Third World and succeeded in resisting the extension of communism in the mid-regions between America and Soviet. But today, Peace Corps has become an integral part of American society and culture.