War of the Black Heavens: The Battles of Western Broadcasting in the Cold WarInternational diplomacy and a changing global economy did not bring about the fall of the Iron Curtain. Radio did, and it was mightier than the sword. Based on first-hand interviews and documents from the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, Michael Nelson shows that Western radio -- principally, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and the Voice of America -- were unrivaled forces in the fight against communism and the fall of the Iron Curtain. It was a propaganda war in which the Communists had few radio listeners in the West. They did everything in their power to prevent the infiltration of Western thought into their world, resorting to jamming radio signals, assassinating staff, and bombing stations. The Russians decided to stop the mass production of short-wave radios so that their citizens could not hear Western broadcasts. War of the Black Heavens reveals that, due to administrative incompetence, short-wave radio production continued, making worthless many of the billions of dollars spent on jamming. These radio programs introduced a forbidden, exciting culture to millions of eager listeners. Pop music, talk shows, news, and information about consumer goods all relayed a message of the good life, subtly undermining the values of the communist regimes. Western radio presented the concept of a civil society that upheld basic human values; it actively connected listeners with the cultures of Europe and North America War of the Black Heavens describes an unheralded story of success and adds a new interpretation that helps us understand some of the most momentous political events of this century. |
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Inhoudsopgave
PROLOGUE | 1 |
THE START OF THE COLD WAR 19451947 | 10 |
THE BEGINNING OF THE AGE OF JAMMING | 20 |
STARTING RFE AND RL 19501953 | 46 |
UPRISINGS 19531956 | 67 |
THE BEGINNINGS OF DÉTENTE 19561963 | 91 |
OTHER MAJOR BROADCASTERS | 107 |
CLEARER AIRWAVES 19631968 | 116 |
CZECHOSLOVAK INVASION AND AFTER 19681979 | 137 |
SOLIDARITY 19791989 1 | 157 |
REVOLUTIONS 1989 | 181 |
GORBACHEV LISTENS TO THE VOICES | 193 |
Overige edities - Alles bekijken
War of the Black Heavens: The Battles of Western Broadcasting in the Cold War Michael Nelson Geen voorbeeld beschikbaar - 1997 |
Veelvoorkomende woorden en zinsdelen
Agency American attack audience August became believed Berlin Board British called cold Committee communism communist continued countries Department direct director East East German Eastern Europe effective European External fact February followed Foreign Office former freedom German head History House Hungarian Hungary important included increased Intelligence International Broadcasting interviewed jamming John July June later Letter Liberty listening London March meeting Memorandum million minister Moscow Munich November objectives operations organization overseas Party percent Poland Polish political President Press programs propaganda quoted Radio Free Europe radio stations received representative Research Reuters RFE/RL Russian secret secretary Senate showed Soviet Union staff started stations stop story Study television tion told Truth United Univ USIA Voice of America wanted Washington West Western Radios World York
Bibliografische gegevens
| Titel | War of the Black Heavens: The Battles of Western Broadcasting in the Cold War |
| Auteur | Michael Nelson |
| Editie | geïllustreerd |
| Uitgever | Syracuse University Press, 1997 |
| ISBN | 0815604793, 9780815604792 |
| Lengte | 298 pagina's |
| Citatie exporteren | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |