information-gap

The chapter explores the persistent Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, emphasizing the mutual fears and the ongoing arms race despite the absence of direct conflict. It introduces citizen diplomats—private Americans engaging in unofficial, people-to-people diplomacy—to bridge the significant information gap and cultural misunderstandings that perpetuate enemy stereotypes and mistrust. These citizen diplomats supplement official diplomacy by fostering mutual understanding, spreading uncensored information, and promoting peace activism to reduce the risk of nuclear war.

The chapter examines the pervasive demonization and stereotyping between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, emphasizing how media and education reinforced enemy images. It highlights the role of citizen diplomats in bridging the information gap and fostering durable personal, cultural, scientific, and economic relationships that humanize the adversary and make nuclear war unthinkable. Additionally, it explores historical government reactions to citizen diplomacy, illustrating the tension between national sovereignty and individual initiative, exemplified by the Logan Act, while noting the relative freedom American citizens have had to engage internationally.