MONOCULTURE | A Recent History

The Novosti Press Agency was founded in 1961 with the aim "to contribute to mutual understanding, trust and friendship among peoples in every possible way by broadly publishing accurate information about the USSR abroad, and familiarising the Soviet public with the life of the peoples of foreign countries". The Agency operated as an impressive propaganda machine with numerous branches all around the world and a total annual publication circulation of 20 million copies. Their range of books covered such topics as the Soviet contribution to the economic development of  'Third World’ countries, the Soviet policy of support for National Liberation Movements, criticism of “contemporary colonialism” and the imperialist policy of the West. As stated in one of the books titled European Security – Problem No.1, the publications propagated the Soviet policy of international friendship and cooperation, as opposed to the Western policy of political exclusion. Alongside propagandising on significant concerns of the Cold War-era, some publications by Novosti Press were also aimed at Jewish people living outside of the USSR who were considering moving to the newly established state of Israel. In the booklet The Deceived Testify for example, the propaganda takes the peculiar form of presenting emotional confessions of those who deeply regretted the decision to try their luck in “capitalist” Israel.