COLD WAR US vs. USSR propaganda Petra Vejvodová vejvodov@fss.muni.cz Cold War nA new type of conflict emerged – contest of ideologies, battle of nerves, which divided world for the next 40 years n nBi-polar competition (Soviet-American relations became focal point) n nWar of words n nErection of Berlin war in 1961 = perfect symbol of a divided world separated by the „Iron Curtain“ Truman Doctrine 1948 – black and white confrontation n„One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of personal liberty, freedom of speech and religion and freedom from political repression. n n The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and repression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms.“ US propaganda nCultural propaganda = dissemination of literature, films, promotion of language teaching, visiting speakers, student exchange n nCoca-Cola, Levi jeans, McDonalds, Hollywood films and American music n nHollywood as Marshall plan of ideas (1950: in 115 countries 72 % of the films were American) n US propaganda nVOA (Voice of America) – official external broadcasting, in 1950 trasmitting daily in 23 languages, big ally in the BBC n nRadio Free Europe – for Eastern Europe n nRadio Liberation (later Liberty) – for Russian audience n US propaganda - education nFocusing on American ideologies of freedom and democracy and presenting the Soviet Union as the enemy who held opposing viewpoints such as communism n n US propaganda - Education of children n ncomic books, textbooks used n n1951: Children’s Crusade Against Communism bubblegum cards n nEducational videos – „Duck and cover“ (1951) n nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60 n n n n http://manspropaganda.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/23card.jpg 72card US propaganda nMovies: science fiction films from 1950s (enemies as invaders e.g. Them!; nuclear themes (Stanley Kubrick: Dr Strangelove,or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb (1964)) nSpies in the movies: James Bond US propaganda – film/television nMovie posters as propaganda pieces n n n n n n n n n nThe Red Menace (1949), R.G. Springsteen The Girl in the Kremlin (1957), n Russell Birdwell redmenace stalinalive US propaganda – film/television nHollywood dealt with the theme of American paranoia during the Cold War period, and storylines very often revolved around the idea that anyone – your husband, your son, your daughter, etc. – could turn into a Communist. n marriedcommunist mysonjohn runawaydaughter US propaganda – film/television nTV as a tool of propaganda – mini documentaries about what it was to be a true patriotic citizen or how to recognize a communist: n nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWeZ5SKXvj8 n n nThe early 1950s film Red Nightmare US propaganda – print media nNewspapers, posters and books n ntestimonials and interviews with people who were American spies in the Soviet Union or who revealed their experiences as residents of communist Russia n sovietrussiachildren warsevendays learnedaboutcommunism USSR propaganda nNewspapers, books n nTelevision: from 1949, massive tool from 1970s (1960 – 1981 the number of domestic TV sets rose from 5 mil to 75 mil, from 5 to 90 percent of population), rigorously controlled by the state n nState radio network GOSTELRADIO n USSR animated propaganda nAgainst American imperialism nAgainst capitalism nAgainst American racism n nChildren poem „Mister Twister“ (depicting Westerners as money-hungry industrialists and racist) nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gUI9VUi4k n nRomanticizing the USSR and promising utopian future of universal well-being n USSR propaganda posters n n n n n n nHere is Uncle Sam in his ring of nuclear bomb switches and from the loudspeaker it is said that “Soviet Union offers to stop nuclear weapon tests”. anti usa soviet russia posters USSR propaganda posters n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n“A Road To Peace” anti usa soviet russia posters USSR propaganda posters n “Humanitarian Help to n Starving Ones in American n Way” anti usa soviet russia posters Secret services nGreat game between CIA and KGB to discredit the other side n nExamples: nAIDS nplundering children from the Third World countries by wealthy Americans Potatoe beetle battle nIn 1950 the East German government claimed the Americans were dropping potato beetles out of planes over Eastern European fields in an attempt to sabotage their crops East German government public information leaflets about the problem of potato beetles Islam fundamentalist propaganda Islam fundamentalist propaganda nTerrorists use propaganda as well nUsing of same practices available to everyone n nHaving impact even without using direct violence n nCase of ISIS/Daesh (self-claimed state) n n n n ISIS nAl Furqan Foundation for Media Production (2006) nAl-I'tisam Media Foundation (2013) nAnjad Foundation for Media Production (2013) nAl Hayat Media Centre (2014) n n“The IS propaganda is unusually slick, they broadcast in over 23 languages.” (James Comey, former FBI Director) n Channels of propaganda nBesides journals, radio… n nFacebook nTwitter nWhatsApp nTelegram nWebsites Target audience •Not only poor, less educated or weak people •Not just a small part of angry young Muslim men •They attract former criminal, teenager, doctors, intellectual and skillful people (IT, chemistry, engineering etc.) •Young frustrated, lonely men hoping for better future •Young women searching for love, respect, sisterhood, family •Audience which must be feared by ISIS n nà Particularly ingenious system of adaptive and personalized propaganda n Narratives •Image of strenght and victory (recruitment) • •Fearing the enemy (executions, children as warriors) • •Showing West as evil • •Caliphate as a paradise • •Fueling conflict between Sunni and Shia (rival groups) n •Jihadist adventure and camaraderie • •Newly: to fight for virtual Caliphate back in countries of residency • • n Recruitment by using pop-culture nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lwiEn7CXts Russian propaganda today Russian propaganda today nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-AmXt8u9LE (Putin`s Propaganda Machine) n nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0JPvidjQvs (One like Putin)