CfP: Transnational Dimensions of Cold War Anticommunism
Luc van Dongen, Claude Hauser, Stéphanie Roulin and Damir Skenderovic
(University of Fribourg, Switzerland). Support from the Swiss
National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Institute of Swiss
Contemporary History (ISCH). Also with the collaboration of Giles
Scott-Smith (Leiden University, Netherlands),
Fribourg, Switzerland
31.10.2011-01.11.2011
Deadline: 01.09.2010
Against the background of potential nuclear devastation and the
confrontation between two ideologies and world powers, an
unrestrained psychological war was fought by the two camps using
modern means of communication (radio, cinema, covert action, etc). In
the West the Cold War was marked by widespread and intense forms of
anti-communism. Generally this was antitotalitarian in nature and
dramatic in tone. In response to the USSR and its Communist Party
acolytes gaining power, and in reaction to important historical
events (Czech Coup, Berlin Blockade, the purges, Korea War, Cuba
Crisis, decolonisation, Vietnam War, etc.), various forms of anti-
communist struggle, discourse and representation arose. While some
anti-communist endeavours built on earlier initiatives, others took
on new forms, such as the large-scale institutionalisation of
clandestine operations by the United States after 1947-48. Although
anti-communist partisans have spoken of the struggle against
communism in terms of a "crusade" (implying the idea of collective
action and a sanctified mission) in retaliation to a threat globally
orchestrated from Moscow, critics have accused the U.S. of illegal
intervention around the world, either militarily or subversively via
the CIA. In recent years there has also been growing interest in
importance and impact of propaganda and public diplomacy conducted in
particular by the US and its allies.
When it comes to assessing these developments, the key question of
the "transnationality" of anti-communism has rarely been raised. This
conference looks to explore this field in breadth and depth through
the following questions:
To what extent was "anti-communism" actually planned, coordinated,
and structured at the transnational level?
What kinds of interactions and interdependences can be observed in
the different types of organised anti-communism on the transatlantic
and European levels?
What were some of the dynamics in the transfer of practices, ideas
and methods?
What types of networks were created in the struggle against the "red
peril"?
In comparison to the interwar period, to what extent were these
developments new, or merely a continuation of previous activities?
What were the motivations and goals of these individuals and groups?
How did covert and overt activities link up, and how did their
interests sometimes clash?
The conference will examine the transnational dimensions of Cold War
anti-communism by bringing together perspectives on the various
connections, involvements, exchanges, relationships and transfers
between societies. This will look in detail at the notion of Western
"anti-communist solidarity" and help to disclose the limits, failures
and shifting phases of this solidarity across the public and private
spheres ("state-private networks"). Since the dominant narrative of
Cold War anti-communism is US-centric, reflecting the greater
resources and leadership role of that nation, it is the aim to build
a more complex picture of this phenomenon by looking at European
initiatives operating separate from (or aligned with) US interests.
In order to explore these issues, the conference aims to bring
together an international group of historians together with scholars
from other disciplines such as sociology, political science,
literature, and film studies. Paper proposals can adopt a comparative
or single country approach as long as a transnational perspective is
present in the analysis. The conference will be divided into three
broad research areas: the "political" area (actions), the "social"
area (networks), and the "cultural" area (transfers, representations,
receptions, political cultures).
The organisers will cover accommodation costs in Fribourg during the
conference. If necessary, funding will be available for covering
travel costs.
Paper proposals should consist of a title and an abstract of max
4,000 characters, together with a brief CV. Please send proposals to
Luc van Dongen.
Since the University of Fribourg is a bilingual university (French
and German), the participants are kindly invited to present their
paper in one of the two languages. However, papers in English are
also welcome as long as a substantial abstract in German and/or
French is available for the audience.
Luc van Dongen
Université de Fribourg, Faculté des lettres
Avenue de l'Europe 20, CH-1700 Fribourg
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