West Germany in the coverage of the czechoslovak conflict of 1968 (Based on soviet newspapers)

Abstract

The article discusses in detail the development of West Germany’s image in the Soviet press during the Czechoslovak conflict of 1968. The research is based on the materials of the main Soviet newspapers, as well as regional and city publications of the Sverdlovsk region. The chronological framework is June–October of 1968, the time of the highest intensity of the conflict and the large-scale Soviet propaganda campaign. The author uses both qualitative and quantitative methods of working with the sources. West Germany was perceived as the main enemy and emanated the main threat to Czechoslovakia and the entire socialist system. West Germany was seen in the Soviet press as having the most negative characteristics, as a key element of the «other world». In these conditions, the United States receded into the background. However, at the same time, the theme of cooperation between West Germany and the United States was used to strengthen the negative image of West Germany. The article analyzes the specifics of newspaper articles, and the vocabulary used by journalists. The transformation of the perception of West Germany during the escalating conflict is traced. The article discusses the use of historical subjects in depicting the activities of West Germany in relation to Czechoslovakia. The author characterizes the presentation of the «new Eastern policy» of West Germany in newspapers during the Czechoslovak crisis. The problem of using images to influence the audi-ence is considered. Publications of official newspapers formed the basis of the majority of Soviet citizens’ knowledge about foreign policy. The importance of publications in establishing images of the outside world is stated. © 2020, Perm State University. All rights reserved.