冷战时期的美国图书馆——文化外交工具的历史考察

American Libraries in the Cold War——A Historical Review of the Cultural Diplomacy Tool

图书馆作为社会公共机构,承担着思想文化传播和社会教育的重要职责,但在特殊的历史时期或国际关系格局下,图书馆还发挥着为国家政治服务的作用。在20世纪40年代后期爆发的冷战中,为全方位地对苏联及共产主义意识形态展开攻击,美国图书馆被政府纳入对外政策中,以国际教育与文化交流的形式充当文化外交的工具,促进了美国政府冷战宣传活动的开展。

As social institutions, libraries undertake the important responsibility for the dissemination of thought and culture and social education. However, during the special historical period or in the special pattern of international relations, libraries also serve for the national politics. During the cold war, in order to attack the Soviet Union and the communism ideology, as a tool in the cultural diplomacy, American libraries were brought into government＇s foreign policy. With a form of international education and cultural exchanges, American libraries promoted the achievement of the objectives of United States cold war propaganda and overseas interests.