Cold War Radio Broadcasts American Science: VOA “Forum” and U.S. Public Diplomacy

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  • VOA「フォーラム」と科学技術広報外交―冷戦ラジオはアメリカの科学をどう伝えたか―
  • VOA 「 フォーラム 」 ト カガク ギジュツ コウホウ ガイコウ : レイセン ラジオ ワ アメリカ ノ カガク オ ドウ ツタエタ カ

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Abstract

<p>“Forum: The Arts and Sciences in Mid-Century America” was a Voice of America (VOA) radio program broadcasted from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. There were more than sixty “series,” each consisting of around 10 to 20 sessions. Each “series” covered a certain academic discipline or a social issue, such as the “Modern American Literature Series,” “Behavioral Science Series,” or “Urban America Series,” and was coordinated by an established scholar of that field. Every 30-minute session featured a distinguished scholar of that field, who lectured in easy-to-understand language for foreign listeners. This article explores how the VOA “Forum” series on natural sciences such as the “Chemistry Series,” “Biology Series,” and “Science History Series” were planned, broadcasted, and received by foreign listeners. By doing so, it demonstrates that science and scientists were mobilized for Cold War public diplomacy, and that science was never apolitical or neutral.</p><p>After the “Sputnik Shock” of October 1958, when the Soviet Union launched the world’s first satellite, the U.S. government shored up its science policy. Both the Department of State and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) employed “science advisers,” and science became tied closer with diplomacy. Science and scientists became important tools to win the hearts and minds of foreign intellectuals and beat the Soviet Union in the arena of public diplomacy. Against this backdrop, the VOA, which was an organization within the USIA, also created radio programs on science.</p><p>The “Forum” series on natural sciences assumed an apolitical, objective, and authentic tone because the programs were coordinated and presented by distinguished scientists, and there was no trace of government interference. Foreign listeners welcomed the non-propagandistic programs, and used the tape-recording and type-scripts of the lectures as “teaching materials” in science and English language classes.</p><p>The author shows, however, that the “Forum” programs were actually filtered through many layers of political scrutiny. First of all, the VOA looked for scientists who would understand and accept the USIA’s ultimate authority over the selection of themes and lecturers. When the coordinator submitted a prospectus and recommended lecturers, various parties scrutinized the plan, including the USIA’s Security Office and science advisor, and advisors from the National Academy of Science (NAS). However, the traces of political scrutiny were invisible when the programs went on air. The author argues that science and scientists were indeed political because they made political interference invisible.</p><p>There was some conflict between the top leadership of the USIA and Henry Loomis, head of the VOA, over whether or not to accept the NAS’s interference in the production process. Loomis wanted to deal with scientists who were hand-picked by the VOA staff. That way, he thought the VOA could control the production process behind the scene. The USIA leaders, however, wanted to introduce the NAS influence because that way, they thought the VOA programs’ prestige and authenticity would increase. The author points out that both parties shared the concept of using scientists to acquire authenticity.</p>

Journal

  • The American Review

    The American Review 54 (0), 67-87, 2020-04-25

    The Japanese Association for American Studies

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