Bibliograph

Freedom's laboratory, the Cold War struggle for the soul of science, Audra J. Wolfe

Type

Label

Freedom's laboratory, the Cold War struggle for the soul of science, Audra J. Wolfe

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-291) and index

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Freedom's laboratory

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1029075700

Responsibility statement

Audra J. Wolfe

Sub title

the Cold War struggle for the soul of science

Summary

Scientists like to proclaim that science knows no borders. Scientific researchers follow the evidence where it leads, their conclusions free of prejudice or ideology. But is that really the case? In Freedom's Laboratory, Audra J. Wolfe shows how these ideas were tested to their limits in the high-stakes propaganda battles of the Cold War. Wolfe examines the role that scientists, in concert with administrators and policymakers, played in American cultural diplomacy after World War II. During this period, the engines of US propaganda promoted a vision of science that highlighted empiricism, objectivity, a commitment to pure research, and internationalism. Working (both overtly and covertly, wittingly and unwittingly) with governmental and private organizations, scientists attempted to decide what, exactly, they meant when they referred to "scientific freedom" or the "US ideology." More frequently, however, they defined American science merely as the opposite of Communist science. Uncovering many startling episodes of the close relationship between the US government and private scientific groups, Freedom's Laboratory is the first work to explore science's link to US propaganda and psychological warfare campaigns during the Cold War. Closing in the present day with a discussion of the recent March for Science and the prospects for science and science diplomacy in the Trump era, the book demonstrates the continued hold of Cold War thinking on ideas about science and politics in the United States

Table Of Contents

Western science vs. Marxist science -- Ambassadors for science -- A war of ideas -- Science and freedom -- Science for peace -- Science for diplomacy -- Developing scientific minds -- An unscientific reckoning -- Scientists' rights are human rights -- Epilogue

Target audience

adult

resource.variantTitle

Cold War struggle for the soul of science

Classification