Cultural Exchanges between Communist Countries and the United States

Abstract

Little scholarly work has been done on cultural exchanges between Communist countries and the United States. Despite the frustrations involved, such exchanges are regarded as useful by both sides. One of the great difficulties in the study of cultural exchanges is the conceptual problem of de fining their nature. It would appear that, in addition to the genuinely cultural aspects of exchanges of persons between and among countries with such different ideologies and political structures, significant noncultural aspects are involved. There is certainly a propaganda component in such exchanges, and also an intelligence component. Many activities which would be regarded as normal academic research in the United States are regarded as espionage by the Soviets. Another difficult problem is obtaining adequate information. On the Soviet side, secrecy hampers the scholar, and on the American side, conscientious participants do not wish to disclose information which may be injurious to their Soviet contacts. Finally, it is interesting to analyze Communist motives in exchanges with "capitalist" countries. Although the Soviet Union especially takes a highly political approach to such exchanges, they are also useful to non-Communist countries. Among the Communist countries, Yugoslavia, particularly, has pursued a relatively liberal course. In spite of the difficulties, it is to be hoped that the United States will continue to welcome exchanges. It is encouraging that the United States Senate ratified the United States-Soviet consular convention, and it is to be hoped that the Soviet Union will also ratify it.