Public Diplomacy and International Politics

This book offers an insightful analysis of international radio news coverage during four significant Soviet-U.S. summit meetings from 1987 to 1990, exploring media influence and propaganda.

This book delves into the realm of international radio news coverage concerning the four pivotal superpower summit meetings between the Soviets and Americans from 1987 to 1990. Public Diplomacy and International Politics focuses on the symbolic constructs employed by various radio services to report on these significant events. It highlights how these broadcasts portrayed the two superpowers, their leaders, and the insights gleaned from interviews, press conferences, joint communiqués, and briefings.

The study evaluates the effectiveness of each superpower in shaping international news narratives, particularly examining the public relations strategies of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan. By analyzing specific talking points crafted by the National Security Council to steer U.S. summit statements, the book assesses the extent to which news coverage was influenced by propaganda. This scrutiny reveals the underlying dynamics of media influence during a critical period in international relations.

Furthermore, Public Diplomacy and International Politics suggests how different radio services contributed to the diversity of international news flow and engages with the ongoing discourse regarding the equality of the global communication and information order. By providing a comprehensive analysis of these summit meetings, the book sheds light on the intricate interplay between diplomacy, media, and international politics during a transformative era.