| Propaganda was one of the main battlefields of American-Soviet conflict during the Cold War,which is of strong significance to the study of American culture of this period.The USSoviet rivalry and the American ascendancy constituted two major global developments in the early phase of the war.George F.Kennan believed that Soviet onward expansion was originated from its inner insecurity,and initiated the strategy of containment to combat Soviet aggressive movements worldwide mainly through non-military approaches.Kennan’s idea later became a guiding policy for American foreign diplomacy in the following decades.The late 1940 s witnessed the revival of American overseas information programs.The Truman Administration incorporated propaganda into its national security plan,and launched an all-round propaganda campaign—the “Campaign of Truth.” The succeeding President Dwight D.Eisenhower had a far clearer understanding of the power of propaganda,and emphasized propaganda efforts abroad.In face of Soviet proposal of “peaceful co-existence,” American overseas information programs shifted its focus from “revolution” to “evolution,” and launched a series of propaganda campaigns with new methods,themes and agencies aiming at penetrating the “Iron Curtain,” meaning that American Cold War propaganda reached its peak.Based upon a detailed review of historical facts,this thesis will adopt Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory,especially his idea of symbolic power to explore the reasons for the rise of American Cold War propaganda,the strategic position Cold War propaganda in the US-Soviet rivalry,and its influence on the construction of national image.By studying the declassified official documents,national archives,presidential speech and major propaganda campaigns launched between 1945 to 1961,“American Creed,” especially the liberal democratic system of the country,American way of life under capitalism,and peace in a view of “the other” were three perspectives that the propagandists used to build American national image.Projecting a national image from American Creed was both a consideration of American interest and the pursuit of the “universalism” implied in American political system.Turning to economic aspect to build national image not only conformed with the changes occurred in American society,but also a deliberate escape from complicated domestic political problems.As for a peace-pursuing American image was more a demonstration of the difference between the two superpowers than a move to substantive conciliation. |
