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Title: Designing Democracy

Designing Democracy

Re-education and the America Houses (1945–1961)- The American Information Centers and their Involvement in Democratic Re-education in Western Germany and West Berlin from 1945 to 1961

by Kathleen Hooper (Author)
©2014 Thesis 317 Pages
History & Political Science

Summary

How can firmly established democracies aid and support emerging democracies? Historically, where has this been done? This book looks at the American Information Centers and their involvement in democratic re-education in Western Germany and West Berlin from 1945 to 1961. Referred to as America Houses in Germany, this thesis argues that these institutions continued re-education much longer on a subtle level and were one of the few influencing, yet powerful tools that America had at its disposal to guide democracy. Considering the fact that these Houses were financed with American taxpayer dollars, it remains astounding that so little has been written about them in English to date. This publication seeks to provide unique insights into this fascinating time in US history.

Table Of Contents

  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • About the author(s)/editor(s)
  • About the book
  • This eBook can be cited
  • Table of Contents
  • Foreword
  • Introduction
  • 1. The America Houses and Political Re-education
  • 1.1 Re-education: Inherently negative or E Pluribus Unum supportive
  • 1.2 The lead up to the America Houses
  • 1.2.1 The structural organizations from 1945–1961
  • 1.3 Re-education and the America Houses
  • 1.4 Germany: cultural similarities/differences
  • 1.4.1 Democracy and Culture
  • 1.5 Propaganda and Re-education
  • 1.5.1 Propaganda and the America Houses
  • 1.5.2 Soviet propaganda
  • 2. America Houses - Detailed
  • 2.1 Strategy and America House Objectives
  • 2.2 Location and Number
  • 2.3 Structural Setup
  • 2.4 Names and Publicity
  • 2.5 Costs and Financing
  • 2.6 The Core - The Library
  • 2.6.1 McCarthyism: a short, powerful lesson in misguided overseas policies
  • 2.6.2 Reading Rooms, Bookmobiles, DAB and DAI
  • 3. America Houses - The Programs
  • 3.1 Programs - General
  • 3.1.1 Visitors and Target Groups
  • 3.2 The Programs - Historical Background
  • 3.2.1 Films
  • 3.2.2 Lectures and Discussions
  • 3.2.3 Exhibitions
  • 3.2.4 Music
  • 3.2.5 Children and Youth
  • 4. America Houses - The Buildings
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.1.1 General Background
  • The Importance of the SOM Plans
  • 4.1.2 The Buildings - Similarities/Differences
  • 4.2 The First - Essen
  • The Layout
  • The exterior
  • The interior
  • Summary
  • 4.3 Cologne - 1955
  • A visual re-education tour – The building
  • The Interior
  • The back block
  • Summary
  • 4.4 The Wave of 1957
  • 4.4.1 Frankfurt
  • A visual re-education tour - The building
  • The plans
  • The design – the exterior
  • The Interior
  • Summary
  • 4.4.2 Munich
  • A visual re-education tour - The building
  • The Interior
  • Summary
  • 4.4.3 Hamburg
  • The building
  • The Interior
  • Summary
  • 4.4.4 Berlin
  • A visual re-education tour - The building
  • The Exterior
  • The Interior
  • Summary
  • 5. Conclusion and Results
  • Sources and Literature Reference
  • Selected Original Documentation from Archives and Collections
  • Documents and official sources/Government publications
  • Bibliography
  • Selected articles
  • On-line Bibliography
  • Selected Interviews
  • Photographic Sources
  • Abbreviations
  • Archives Visted

About the author(s)/editor(s)

Kathleen R. Hooper studied at Colorado State University (USA) and graduated in Design at the University of Wuppertal (Germany) where she worked as a research assistant and lecturer in American Art. Since then she has worked as a consultant in communications development and management training.

About the book

How can firmly established democracies aid and support emerging democracies? Historically, where has this been done? This book looks at the American Information Centers and their involvement in democratic re-education in Western Germany and West Berlin from 1945 to 1961. Referred to as America Houses in Germany, this thesis argues that this institutions continued re-education much longer on a subtle level and were one of the few influencing, yet powerful tools that America had at its disposal to guide democracy. Considering the fact that these Houses were financed with American taxpayer dollars, it remains astounding that so little has been written about them in English to date. This publication seeks to provide unique insights into this fascinating time in US history.

This eBook can be cited

This edition of the eBook can be cited. To enable this we have marked the start and end of a page. In cases where a word straddles a page break, the marker is placed inside the word at exactly the same position as in the physical book. This means that occasionally a word might be bifurcated by this marker.

Table of contents

Foreword

Introduction

1. The America Houses and Political Re-education

1.1 Re-education: Inherently negative or E Pluribus Unum supportive

1.2 The lead up to the America Houses

1.2.1 The structural organizations from 1945–1961

1.3 Re-education and the America Houses

1.4 Germany: cultural similarities/differences

1.4.1 Democracy and Culture

1.5 Propaganda and Re-education

1.5.1 Propaganda and the America Houses

1.5.2 Soviet propaganda

2. America Houses - Detailed

2.1 Strategy and America House Objectives

2.2 Location and Number

2.3 Structural Setup

2.4 Names and Publicity

2.5 Costs and Financing

2.6 The Core - The Library

2.6.1 McCarthyism: a short, powerful lesson in misguided overseas policies

2.6.2 Reading Rooms, Bookmobiles, DAB and DAI

3. America Houses - The Programs

3.1 Programs - General

3.1.1 Visitors and Target Groups

3.2 The Programs - Historical Background

3.2.1 Films

3.2.2 Lectures and Discussions

3.2.3 Exhibitions

3.2.4 Music

Details

Pages
317
Publication Year
2014
ISBN (Hardcover)
9783631649121
ISBN (PDF)
9783653039665
ISBN (MOBI)
9783653990195
ISBN (ePUB)
9783653990201
DOI
10.3726/978-3-653-03966-5
Language
English
Publication date
2014 (May)
Keywords
US Information Centers Demokratie Re-education American Information Centers America Houses
Published
Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien, 2014. 317 pp., 33 coloured fig., 37 b/w fig.
Product Safety
Peter Lang Group AG

Biographical notes

Kathleen Hooper (Author)

Kathleen R. Hooper gained a degree from Colorado State University (USA) and graduated in Design at the University of Wuppertal (Germany) where she worked as a research assistant and lecturer in American Art. Since then she has worked as a consultant in communications development and management training.

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Title: Designing Democracy