13194

SoSe 22: US Cultural Diplomacy in the 20th Century

Maximilian Klose

Information for students

Please note: this course will start in May (first lesson: Tuesday, May 3rd). Two additional lessons are added in May and July to make up for the missing ones in April

Comments

Throughout the 20th century, and especially since the end of World War II, the United States has frequently been accused of cultural hegemony and even cultural imperialism to consolidate its position as a global hegemon. But what exactly is this “culture” and how does it strengthen a country’s power in the world? Who promotes culture and how they do it? Where is cultural exchange and spread successful, and where not? This seminar introduces students to the concept of cultural diplomacy and to its use by several groups of US actors in different world regions from the interwar period through the Cold War. We will investigate what those actors understood as culture, how they evaluated their role in promoting it, and what they hoped to gain from this. In doing so, students will develop an understanding of what cultural diplomacy includes or excludes, how it intersects with political, economic, and military diplomacy, and how it contributes to both a country’s image and its power abroad. close