Cold War Cultural Diplomacy

"Amerika", "USSR" and "Soviet Life" as tools for Cultural Diplomacy in Cold War

"Amerika" was a U.S. Information Agency (USIA) produced, Russian language magazine, it evaded strict Soviet censorship on printing and attempted to provide their public with an unfiltered view of the West. It sought to provide the USSR with an unaltered view of the United States on the other side of the "Iron Curtain". Stalin's death led to a renewed Soviet-American cultural agreement in October 1956 and the development of a reciprocal distribution scheme of public media. At this time "The USSR/Soviet Life" was also being distributed in the US, "Soviet Life" remain apolitical and only showcased USSR culture (including minorities), science, education and general life. "Amerika" attempted to showcase the benefits of Capitalism but in a non-political sense. Both magazines acted as a window the other country and both were highly sought after in a world of "us versus them" mentalities. Overall, the magazines helped to promote public diplomacy between two superpowers and sought to inform, educate and enlighten their readers up until 1991, with the fall of the Soviet Union.