"We Shall Tell You the Truth": "Voice of America" in the Global Information Space (1940-Ies – Beginning of the Xxi Century)
Abstract: The aim of the article is to provide a complex survey of the American broadcasting station "Voice of America’s" history since its establishment to the beginning of the XXI century. The methodology of the research is based on combination of the general and special historical methods and principles of historical cognition, namely scientificity, historicism, systematicity, objectivity. The principles of historicism, systematicity and scientificity provide for tracing the activity of "Voice of America" and its cau… Show more
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«Sharing America’s Story with Ukraine: the Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949–2019»: Collection of Scientific Articles and Materials on the History of the Ukrainian Service «Voice of America»
In this publication, an overview of the American-Ukrainian collection of scientific articles and materials «Sharing America’s Story With Ukraine: The Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949–2019», presented in Ukraine and the United States is carried out. Collection, prepared on the initiative of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, of the Ukrainian Museum-Archive in Cleveland and the Ukrainian Association of American Studies, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Ukrainian Service «Voice of America». It first reviewed the history of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America» from the appearance of until now. Attention is accentuated in the most important milestones and aspects of its activities, in particular in the conditions of ideological and information struggle of the USA and the USSR in the Cold War, coverage of independent Ukraine, its socio-political transformations and revolutionary events of the modern time, the contribution of Ukrainian service «Voice of America» in the formation of Ukrainian democratic media, etc. Also the collection included general research on the history of service, an overview of the context of its work and research on several directors. Particularly valuable are the memoirs of Adrian Karmazyn about his almost 30-years work for the «Voice of America» and a number of documents of Soviet special services associated with Western radio voices. Articles included in the collection prepared primarily on the basis of unique documents on personal archives, as well as the Sectocal state archive of the Security Service of Ukraine, memoirs of participants in fateful events, the most significant video materials and publications placed on the official website of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America». The importance of the appearance of such publications, and in particular this collection certifies attention to it and positive reviews of Ukrainian and American scientists, media, representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. As well as the spread of a collection on authoritative websites, for example, in one of the largest resources of the Ukrainian diaspora «Diasporiana.org.ua». And although the collection of articles and materials «Sharing America’s Story With Ukraine: The Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949-2019» came out quite voluminous, many aspects of the history of the Ukrainian «Voice of America» remained unproven and need further research. Thus, the publication should be considered as a peculiar foundation for a further purposeful comprehensive study of the history of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America», published in it articles and materials, undoubtedly will be useful to the next researchers. The presentation of the collection took place on February 12, 2020 at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv on the basis of the Department of New and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries. Members of the author’s team, teachers and students – аmericanists of historical faculty, correspondents of «Voice of America» took part in it, as well as in video conference – one of the compilers and editors of the collection Adrian Karmazyn from Washington and the director of the Ukrainian Archive-Museum in Cleveland Andriy Fedynskiy. During the discussion about the role and place of «Voice of America» in the Ukrainian and world information space, the presentation participants emphasized the relevance and prospects of further research of the history of its Ukrainian service.
«Sharing America’s Story with Ukraine: the Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949–2019»: Collection of Scientific Articles and Materials on the History of the Ukrainian Service «Voice of America»
In this publication, an overview of the American-Ukrainian collection of scientific articles and materials «Sharing America’s Story With Ukraine: The Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949–2019», presented in Ukraine and the United States is carried out. Collection, prepared on the initiative of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, of the Ukrainian Museum-Archive in Cleveland and the Ukrainian Association of American Studies, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Ukrainian Service «Voice of America». It first reviewed the history of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America» from the appearance of until now. Attention is accentuated in the most important milestones and aspects of its activities, in particular in the conditions of ideological and information struggle of the USA and the USSR in the Cold War, coverage of independent Ukraine, its socio-political transformations and revolutionary events of the modern time, the contribution of Ukrainian service «Voice of America» in the formation of Ukrainian democratic media, etc. Also the collection included general research on the history of service, an overview of the context of its work and research on several directors. Particularly valuable are the memoirs of Adrian Karmazyn about his almost 30-years work for the «Voice of America» and a number of documents of Soviet special services associated with Western radio voices. Articles included in the collection prepared primarily on the basis of unique documents on personal archives, as well as the Sectocal state archive of the Security Service of Ukraine, memoirs of participants in fateful events, the most significant video materials and publications placed on the official website of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America». The importance of the appearance of such publications, and in particular this collection certifies attention to it and positive reviews of Ukrainian and American scientists, media, representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. As well as the spread of a collection on authoritative websites, for example, in one of the largest resources of the Ukrainian diaspora «Diasporiana.org.ua». And although the collection of articles and materials «Sharing America’s Story With Ukraine: The Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, 1949-2019» came out quite voluminous, many aspects of the history of the Ukrainian «Voice of America» remained unproven and need further research. Thus, the publication should be considered as a peculiar foundation for a further purposeful comprehensive study of the history of the Ukrainian service «Voice of America», published in it articles and materials, undoubtedly will be useful to the next researchers. The presentation of the collection took place on February 12, 2020 at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv on the basis of the Department of New and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries. Members of the author’s team, teachers and students – аmericanists of historical faculty, correspondents of «Voice of America» took part in it, as well as in video conference – one of the compilers and editors of the collection Adrian Karmazyn from Washington and the director of the Ukrainian Archive-Museum in Cleveland Andriy Fedynskiy. During the discussion about the role and place of «Voice of America» in the Ukrainian and world information space, the presentation participants emphasized the relevance and prospects of further research of the history of its Ukrainian service.
The article is devoted to the activities of «Voice of America» in one of the most difficult periods for this organization – 1945–1953. The difficulty of the existence of «Voice of America» in the specified period was explained by the fact that having fulfilled its task – opposition to German and Italian propaganda during the Second World War – «Voice of America» faced the threat of extinction. The purpose of the article is to consider the struggle of «Voice of America» for its existence, to show the problems «Voice of America» faced during the period of being under the State Department jurisdiction, as well as the role of the latter in preserving this radio broadcast. The article analyzes the American and Ukrainian developments regarding the research topic and emphasizes the significant positive changes currently observed in the Ukrainian scientific environment regarding the research topic. It is noted that the post-war events in the world and the immediate beginning of the «Cold War» contributed to solving the question of the feasibility of the existence of «Voice of America», as some political circles began to see in «Voice of America» a new tool for countering Soviet propaganda. Therefore, the question about the need to continue foreign information operations as an integral part of conducting foreign affairs arose on the agenda, especially considering the nature of international relations after the end of the war. It is indicated that despite the obvious advantage of «Voice of America» existence, a certain skepticism was observed among congressmen. It resulted in the reduction of funding for «Voice of America» activities which led to a reduction in staff, broadcasting hours, variety of programs, etc. Special attention is drawn to William Benton, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, the man who single-handedly saved the «Voice of America» from complete disappearance. The methodological basis of the article was the principle of historicism, a systematic approach, problem-chronological and descriptive methods. The scientific novelty consists in a step-by-step examination of the problems faced by the «Voice of America» in the specified period, showing the role of W. Benton in preserving the existence of the radio station, as well as in refuting the thesis regarding the absolute informational independence of the «Voice of America» from the US government. It is noted that the «Voice of America» in 1945–1953 still tried to reflect American foreign policy from the official American point of view. However, it was more independent in criticizing the domestic political situation.
Ukrainian National Issue in the Emerging U.S. Strategy Towards the Soviet Union (1946 – 1953)
The purpose of the article is to reveal the consideration of the Ukrainian national issue in designing and implementing the U.S. postwar strategy towards the Soviet Union at the outbreak of the Cold War, under the presidency of Harry Truman. Methodology. This is qualitative empirical research, based on a critical analysis of primary and secondary sources. The research topic is studied against the background of developments of the international situation after World War II, which influenced the shaping of the U.S. post-war strategy towards the USSR, as well as the development of anti-Soviet armed resistance in the western part of Ukraine, and Ukrainian Americans’ efforts to use the new international situation in Ukrainian national interests. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the coverage of a topic that has not been sufficiently studied, and in the introduction of new primary sources for this purpose. Conclusions. The postwar U.S. foreign policy strategy was driven by Soviet expansionism, and a threat of a new world war. The American Government began to consider the Ukrainian national issue in designing the post-war strategy towards the USSR because of three major factors: the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in the western part of Ukraine; the willingness of the representatives of Ukrainian political émigré with close ties to the UPA to cooperate with the U.S. intelligence, and the activities of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, aimed at obtaining American Government’s assistance and support for Ukrainians in Europe. In 1946–1951, the representatives of some Ukrainian émigré groups were involved in gathering intelligence about Soviet military capabilities and intentions, and in operations to root out Soviet agents among Displaced Persons in Germany. In 1949–1951, the CIA parachuted the Ukrainian couriers, trained as wireless operators, into the western part of Ukraine to collect intelligence and to organize a network of active resistance behind the Soviet lines in case of the new world war. U.S. intelligence cooperated mostly with the most moderate group of Ukrainian political émigré – the Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council. After this strategy had failed, the U.S. Government focused on the development of a psychological warfare strategy. One of the components of its implementation was the foundation of Prolog Research and Publishing Association (1952) with CIA assistance. However, the understanding of the importance of the Ukrainian national factor in the U.S. «Soviet» strategy was only emerging.
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