American Studies in Turkey during the Cultural Cold War

Abstract

This essay is a politico-cultural survey of the American Studies discipline in the United States and abroad, with special reference to Turkey. Against the background of extended relations with the United States during the Cold War period, the field in Turkey developed through bilateral efforts. While the initiative was an invaluable part of US public diplomacy to win hearts and minds, the reasons for the flourishing of American Language (later Culture) and Literature programs in Turkey were, and still are, mainly non-ideological for Turkish students and scholars.