The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare: Cold War Organizations Sponsored by the National Committee for a Free Europe/Free Europe Committee

Each of the essays in this volume focuses on an organization or activity funded through the National Committee for a Free Europe, Inc. ( later re-named the Free Europe Committee, Inc.) during the war of ideas and ideals in which the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged that came to be known as the Cold War. This US government sponsored organization existed between in 1949 and 1971 and was but one aspect of United Sates policy arising from the policy of containment and an aggressive stance against Soviet Expansionism. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty are the two most well known divisions of NCFE, with RFE having the highest public profile. Beyond support for the broadcast divisions there were hundreds of other organizations funded by the NCFE including national councils or committees representing the exile leadership of satellite nations, the Assembly of Captive European nations, the Free European University in Exile, the Crusade for Freedom and the International Peasant Union as well as various propaganda programs including those that sponsored cultural and sports activities and organizations. The NCFE and its Cold War campaign of "organized political warfare" remains one the last aspect of US Cold War policy that has not been thoroughly researched and Cold War scholarship will not be complete until this history is made available. This volume takes the first step in that direction.