A Study On Cultural Cold War And American Education Exchange Programs In Southeast Asia(1946-1961)

The United States took earlier advantage of foreign education and exchange to propagate its culture and values in the contemporary era and developed foreign education and exchange quite earlier.After the World War ?,especially with the outbreak of cold war and formation of cold war pattern of the Far East,the United States has gradually placed the Southeast Asia in an important position of its global strategy,considering such area as the frontier to resist the Soviet Union and communism.In order to rope the Southeast Asia in capitalism camp for fighting the socialism camp together,the United States tried to enhance the mutual understanding between it and Southeast Asian countries by activities of education and exchange,and strengthen acceptance and favorable impression of Southeast Asian peoples for the United States,thus influencing neutral countries in Southeast Asia ideologically and resisting the dissemination of communism.Meanwhile,it also shaped its good international image among Southeast Asian countries by education and exchange programs.During 1946-1961,the American government together with NGO,developed various education and exchange programs in Southeast Asia and cultivated many talents,which objectively promoted the social and economic development in Southeast Asia.However,in its essence,such education and exchange programs are the important contents of American cultural diplomacy in Southeast Asia,methods to achieve American benefits and interests and important tools to initiate Cultural Cold War with the Soviet Union.