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Cultural Cold Wars and UNESCO in the Twentieth Century addresses the now-considerable interest in the concept of cultural cold war as a means of advancing ideologies.
The book charts the development of the concept in the twentieth century. Structured in two parts, Part I considers the League of Nations' idealist attempts at international intellectual cooperation. It discusses also the first cultural cold war with the Communist International's attempts to advance communism. It also analyses the ideological and cultural appeal of Italian fascism, German national socialism, and Japanese nationalist militarism; and the transition from a wartime alliance to a new cold war. Part II examines the renewal of international intellectual co-operation through the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the context of a second cultural cold war between the capitalist democracies and the communist bloc. The book shows that UNESCO became a site of this ideological competition and an example of its tensions.
Based on original research and a comprehensive review of the literature, including in Russian, German, and French, the book will appeal to academics, postgraduate researchers, advanced undergraduates, and others interested in recent international history and the comparative politics of ideas.
List of contents
Introduction Part One: Cultural Cold Wars 1. Cultural and Intellectual Internationalism Between the Wars; 2. The First Cultural Cold War: International Communism; 3. The Cultural and Intellectual Appeal of Fascism; 4. From Wartime Alliance to the Second Cultural Cold War Part Two: UNESCO and the Cultural Cold War 5. UNESCO and the Politics of International Cooperation after 1945; 6. UNESCO and the Early Cultural Cold War; 7. Conclusion: UNESCO and the Politics of Ideas in the late Twentieth Century; Bibliography; Index
About the author
W. John Morgan is Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, University of Nottingham, where he was UNESCO Chair of the Political Economy of Education. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Jordan and until recently was Honorary Professor and Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow, Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, of the Learned Society of Wales, and of the Royal Historical Society, he has also been a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner for the United Kingdom and Chairman of the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO. His previously published works with Routledge include Civil Society, Social Change, and a New Popular Education in Russia (with I.N. Trofimova and G.A. Kliucharev), Philosophy, Dialogue, and Education: Nine modern European philosophers (with A. Guilherme), Buber and Education: Dialogue as conflict resolution (with A. Guilherme), Chinese Higher Education Reform and Social Justice (edited, with B. Wu), and Higher Education Reform in China: Beyond the expansion (edited, with B. Wu).
Summary
This book addresses the now considerable interest in the concept of cultural cold war as a means of advancing ideologies. It will appeal to academics, postgraduate researchers, advanced undergraduates, and others interested in recent international history and the comparative politics of ideas.
Report
"Given the current geopolitical tensions, this book has the greatest relevance for all who are seeking an understanding of ways in which cross-cultural engagement might make possible a more peaceful future for humanity...What is exceptional about the book is the rich set of references for each chapter and the fact that material current to the perspectives of each period in the evolution of the cultural cold wars is drawn upon, giving readers the opportunity to follow the unfolding dialogue."
Ruth E. S. Hayhoe, University of Toronto
"The intricate role of comparative and international education in 'cultural diplomacy' has long been a subject of intellectual intrigue...The book reveals the purpose of culture from the viewpoint of state politics, where culture is seen as 'soft power' - a term that refers to the ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. Drawing on his outstanding knowledge of philosophy and political history, Morgan guides us through the ideas and historical development of cultural diplomacy...These beliefs have led politicians to view culture as a realm of values (referred to as 'idealistic' cultural policy) or utilise it to serve their power interests (referred to as 'realistic' cultural diplomacy)...We adhere to higher values even when our actions are, in essence, driven by self-interest. This nuanced interplay between idealism and realism, and the inherent tension between them, is probably the central insight of Morgan's illuminating work."
Tamas Kozma, Professor Emeritus, University of Debrecen
