Constructing the Enemy: How US Media Framed the USSR in the 1980s

Authors

Tyler J. Buchanan, State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State CollegeFollow

Abstract

Tyler Buchanan, Constructing the Enemy: How US Media Framed the USSR in the 1980s. This paper examines the presentation of media in the United States on American citizens through an analysis of the use of commercials and advertisements,. Ultimately, the media in the United States from the 1980s reveal a clear and apparent message the US media portrays the USSR to instill fear into the average American citizen. The 1980s was a hotbed for the ideological and political rivalry between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War. The United States sought to promote democracy and capitalism, while the Soviets and the Eastern Bloc promoted communism. This paper expands a niche field that many Americans know and feel today but has been previously neglected by historians. This field was neglected because the 1980s is still in recent years and historians are just starting to look back and see it has historical context. Furthermore, while some may perceive this thesis as redundant due to the ongoing relevance of public perceptions of the Soviet Union during that era, it is precisely this enduring significance that underscores the necessity of a nuanced historical examination.

Recommended Citation

Buchanan, Tyler J. (2024) "Constructing the Enemy: How US Media Framed the USSR in the 1980s," The Exposition: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/exposition/vol8/iss1/4