In 1964, at a time when the U.S. was in deep crisis as the national
and social liberation movements of the people everywhere were
mounting, its Foreign Affairs Committee commissioned a study on
"the U.S. ideological offensive, both governmental and private, in
its relationship to U.S. Foreign Policy." The Subcommittee on
International Organizations and Movements received the report,
entitled The U.S. Ideological Effort: Government Agencies and
Programs, to review its efficacy.
The Study concluded that in conditions of a nuclear stalemate
between the U.S. and the former-USSR, and ongoing "competitive
programs of aid and trade... to secure the loyalty of the
uncommitted areas of the world, (a) third great area of foreign
policy, the psychological or ideological," was to become the focal
point of competition.
The Study assessed the conditions in various regions of the
world. In Asia, Africa and Latin America "the people have been
undergoing a 'revolution of rising expectations,' as they have come
to realize that poverty, ignorance, and disease need not be a
permanent condition of their lives.... (C)ircumstances render these
areas peculiarly susceptible to Communist penetration."
While "circumstances tend to focus our ideological and
propaganda efforts on Asia, Africa and Latin America," the Study
argued that "it would seem rather unwise to abandon or minimize
such efforts in Europe." Amongst other things, it noted that
"European intellectuals, once persuaded of the value of our
institutions and policies, may tell our story to the rest of the
world with great effect."
Finally, it emphasized that the offensive could not be
abandoned in the "communist bloc" itself, "to the extent its
ideological penetration is possible."
The Study assessed the balance in the "battle of ideas" and
reported that "it is widely believed that the Soviet Union
surpasses America in this field." The time had come to deploy
greater energy and resources to it. The Subcommittee on
International Organizations and Movements delineated the aims and
objectives that should direct the U.S. ideological offensive, aims
and objectives that continue to this day.
Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
