Implementation and features of Soviet propaganda in Thailand in the Cold War period

Abstract

This article deals with features of Soviet propaganda activities in the Cold War period in Thailand. After abrupt changes of the former allies foreign policy, the Soviet Union after the Great Patriotic War dramatically reviewed and corrected its international propaganda work concept. The main role of this new confrontation between ideological camps belonged to the media, which were aimed at international audience, and systematically implemented their state policy on the informational and psychological front. From the USSR side, this role was fulfilled by the Soviet Information Bureau (Sovinformburo, later - Novosty Press Agensy, APN). After the Second World War the USSR began influencing the foreign policy of Thailand. This kind of work was organized in the condition of Thai anticommunist propaganda. In the article the implementation process of Soviet propaganda activities and features of the Soviet propaganda in complicated circumstances in Thailand and its neighbors, based on archive materials, is considered. During this research also analyzed the reports of local office of Sovinformburo (APN) in Thailand; activities of the Soviet media, featured in the local Soviet media publications in Thailand such as the local version of the Soviet Union magazine, pamphlets of Sovinformburo (APN); legal documents from the Soviet side (resolutions of the USSRs Peoples Commissars related to the foreign propaganda activities), and from Thailand side (acts, resolutions and transcripts of the Royal Thai Governments meetings). The academic works related to Soviet propaganda activities in Russian, Thai and English languages are studied. It is found out that innovations and strategies of the Soviet propaganda and counterpropaganda changed along with the development of diplomatic relations with Thailand. Regime changes and domestic policy development significantly affected the work of Sovinformburo (APN.) In the conclusion, the implementation of Soviet propaganda in Thailand depended on both domestic and international factors, impacting the position of Thailand on the international arena and the stability of the authority. Implementation of Soviet propaganda in various periods took place along the complicated condition of political life in Thailand and ideological confrontation of these political systems.