Author: Giuseppe Gagliano – 13/12/2024
The Transformation of American Cultural Diplomacy: From Public to Secret
Giuseppe Gagliano – CESTUDEC – Centro studi strategici Carlo de Cristoforis
Abstract – This study explores the interplay between public and private diplomacy in the context of the Cold War, focusing on the strategic use of cultural warfare by the United States. It highlights the covert operations of the CIA and the overt efforts of the USIA to counter Soviet influence through propaganda, cultural infiltration, and partnerships with private foundations such as Ford and Rockefeller. Special attention is given to gender-focused initiatives, youth movements, and labor unions as key targets of American information campaigns. The complementary roles of public diplomacy and clandestine actions are examined, culminating in the establishment of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) during the Reagan administration. The analysis underscores the pragmatic and long-term nature of American cultural diplomacy in shaping global ideological landscapes.
Keywords: Cold War, Cultural Diplomacy, Ideological Warfare
Continue reading, please download the Analytical Dossier AD_16_2024 ISSN 2704-6419
The Author: Giuseppe Gagliano – In 2011 he founded the international network Cestudec (Centro studi strategici Carlo de Cristoforis) based in Como, with the aim of studying the conflictual dynamics of international relations from a realistic perspective, placing emphasis on the dimension of intelligence and geopolitics in the light of the reflections of Christian Harbulot, founder and director of the School of Economic Warfare (EGE). Gagliano has published four essays in French on economic warfare and ten essays in Italian on geopolitics.