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The Mediatization Of War: A Comparison Of The American And German Media Coverage Of The Vietnam And Iraq Wars, Gerd Horten

Gerd Horten

The last fifty years have seen the further expansion of the role of media during times of war. Although no longer dominated by large-scale propaganda agencies as during the two world wars, the media nevertheless have become ever more integral to the planning and conduct of wars. This article applies the concept of mediatization in an attempt to capture the ever-increasing role of the media during war times as part of an ongoing and accelerating historical process. It uses a comparative analysis to highlight the commonalities of this process as well as to emphasize national particularities. The article argues that …

Sailing In The Shadow Of The Vietnam War: The Gdr Government And The "Vietnam Bonus" Of The Early 1970s, Gerd Horten

Gerd Horten

In concert with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries, the East German government vigorously opposed the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s and supported North Vietnam politically and economically. Concurrently, it sponsored ongoing solidarity campaigns in support of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) against the US-led coalition. As the American war effort deteriorated, the East German government reaped a significant boost both internationally and domestically as a result of these campaigns. This "Vietnam Bonus" helped to enhance the international stature of the GDR and increased the domestic stability of the SED government in the early 1970s.

Dr. Gerd J. Horten Professor Of History - Concordia University Portland, Gerd Horten

Gerd Horten

Gerd Horten, author of the book 'Radio Goes to War: The Cultural Politics of Propaganda during World War II', discusses World War II propaganda and censorship. Recorded by Phil Sedgwick.

Video uploaded by Phil Sedgwick under Standard YouTube License