Interaction Between Media And Politics: A Re-examination Of Lippmann's Cold War Thought

Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) is America' s most renowned journalist and columnist, whose column covered almost every major event in U.S. in his time. These works not only help readers see through the labyrinth of bewildering political phenomena to think rationally, but also influenced the thinking mode of policy makers and therefore America's domestic and foreign policies. After the Second World War, Lippmann's series of criticism at George Kennan's containment strategy shocked the international political arena and produced far reaching impact on the US-Russia strategies. These column articles were compiled into the book of The Cold War. Cold War became the most popular international relationship jargon in the latter half of the 20th century.This paper focused on Lippmann' s cold war thought, and put it against the interaction between US media and politics. The aim is to analyses its causes, compare it with contemporaries and explicate its influence in such a macro context.This paper features both longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of Lippmann' s Cold War thought. His personal background, life experience and evolution of thought are reviewed first. The paper found that Lippmann's democratic perspectives, realism, elitism and scientific rationalism are the basis of his Cold War thought. To further clarify Lippmann's Cold War thought, this paper proceeded to compare Lippmann's thought with other relevant thoughts. America's national interest is found to be the common cornerstone underlying all these seemingly, even conflicting thought. The contention of thought didn' t go beyond the competition of different factions within the established system. Though many of these thoughts, including Lippmann's were not made national strategy, they did enriched and refined the theoretical framework for America' s foreign policy making, and directed policy makers to think from different angles. Their values are equally profound in this sense.Hence, this paper found that Lippmann set up the framework to study Cold War issues, and he became an effective preacher of his Cold War thought to influence public opinions both home and abroad. Drawing on his preeminent position in the media system, Lippmann participated in the shaping of America' s Cold War policies. He played an active role in America's public foreign affairs, and his thought and activities are valuable legacies for later comers. These serve as an important reference system for us to study the interaction between America's media, intellectual thinkings and foreign affairs policies.