History of the FutureHistory of the Future

The Cold War & The Cold War & Paranoia in the 1950sParanoia in the 1950s

As World War II FinishesAs World War II Finishes

Soviet Union has key role in Nazi defeatSoviet Union has key role in Nazi defeat Builds up international credibilityBuilds up international credibility Strong Communist parties in France, ItalyStrong Communist parties in France, Italy Asserts new control in E. EuropeAsserts new control in E. Europe

US finishes war as sole Great PowerUS finishes war as sole Great Power 50% of world manufacturing capability50% of world manufacturing capability Most power Army, Navy, AirforceMost power Army, Navy, Airforce Only nuclear powerOnly nuclear power

The US Policy: ContainmentThe US Policy: Containment

US policy from 1947US policy from 1947 Soviet expansionism as major world threatSoviet expansionism as major world threat Defensive response, open endedDefensive response, open ended

Strengthening of international alliancesStrengthening of international alliances NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Bretton Woods (IMF, World Bank)Bretton Woods (IMF, World Bank) GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs & GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs &

Trade)Trade) Marshall Plan (Rebuild Western Europe)Marshall Plan (Rebuild Western Europe)

ChinaChina

Mao takes power, 1949Mao takes power, 1949 War relations with Soviets through 1950sWar relations with Soviets through 1950s

West tends to view Communism as monolithicWest tends to view Communism as monolithic Korean War begins 1950Korean War begins 1950

Finishes with battles between Chinese & UN Finishes with battles between Chinese & UN (largely American) troops(largely American) troops

Result is a drawResult is a draw More paranoiaMore paranoia

Manchurian Candidate (1962, from 1959 novel)Manchurian Candidate (1962, from 1959 novel)

McCarthyismMcCarthyism

Joseph McCarthy, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, Republican Senator (1908-1957)(1908-1957) Habitual liar, alcoholicHabitual liar, alcoholic Facing defeat in 1950, claims list of 25 Facing defeat in 1950, claims list of 25

communists in State departmentcommunists in State department Smears Truman administration as “Reds”Smears Truman administration as “Reds”

Chairs Committee on Government Chairs Committee on Government OperationsOperations Many careers destroyedMany careers destroyed Colleagues turn against after targeting US Army, Colleagues turn against after targeting US Army,

fellow Republicansfellow Republicans Exposed on TV, censured by Senate in 1954Exposed on TV, censured by Senate in 1954

Film InterludeFilm Interlude

Anti-communist propaganda filmAnti-communist propaganda film

HUACHUAC

House Committee on Un-American AffairsHouse Committee on Un-American Affairs Created in 1938, used by opponents of New DealCreated in 1938, used by opponents of New Deal

Best known for “Hollywood Hearings” of Best known for “Hollywood Hearings” of 1947-19481947-1948 10 screenwriters and directors jailed for 10 screenwriters and directors jailed for

contemptcontempt uses hearings as political weaponuses hearings as political weapon

Nixon makes political mark hereNixon makes political mark here Becomes Vice President in 1952Becomes Vice President in 1952

The Rosenberg CaseThe Rosenberg Case Julius & Ethel RosenbergJulius & Ethel Rosenberg

Jointed communist party in 1939Jointed communist party in 1939 Passed atomic secrets from Passed atomic secrets from

Manhattan project during WWIIManhattan project during WWII Arrested 1950 (around Korean Arrested 1950 (around Korean

war)war) Executed 1953 – unusual for Executed 1953 – unusual for

civilianscivilians Millions believed innocentMillions believed innocent

Other prominent spy trials of eraOther prominent spy trials of era Alger Hiss (“pumpkin papers”)Alger Hiss (“pumpkin papers”) Klaus FuchsKlaus Fuchs

Eisenhower & PoliticsEisenhower & Politics

War leader turned presidentWar leader turned president Centrist, non-ideologicalCentrist, non-ideological

Accepted reforms of New Deal Accepted reforms of New Deal periodperiod

Leaned toward corporationsLeaned toward corporations Cold war supports domestic truceCold war supports domestic truce

““New Deal Order” lasts into 1970sNew Deal Order” lasts into 1970s

Civil Rights & ReligionCivil Rights & Religion

Cold War puts spotlight on “freedom”Cold War puts spotlight on “freedom” MLK exploits cleverly & non-violentlyMLK exploits cleverly & non-violently

Intensive activism following WWIIIntensive activism following WWII Truman desegregates armyTruman desegregates army Brown v. Board of Education case, 1954Brown v. Board of Education case, 1954 Rosa Parks and the bus, 1955Rosa Parks and the bus, 1955 Civil Rights Act 1957, peak comes in 60sCivil Rights Act 1957, peak comes in 60s

Billy Graham – Christian RevivalismBilly Graham – Christian Revivalism Massive popularity in 1950sMassive popularity in 1950s

Economic CompetitionEconomic Competition

Soviet economy seen as dangerously Soviet economy seen as dangerously efficientefficient Used as argument for more planning, Used as argument for more planning,

simulation, modeling in USAsimulation, modeling in USA Used as argument for national scientific Used as argument for national scientific

databasedatabase Challenges capitalism to justify Challenges capitalism to justify

superioritysuperiority

SputnikSputnik

First artificial satellite, October 1957First artificial satellite, October 1957 Soviet propaganda triumphSoviet propaganda triumph US effort undermined by political bickeringUS effort undermined by political bickering

Crisis of confidence resultsCrisis of confidence results Eventual strengthening of US scienceEventual strengthening of US science

Formation of ARPA (funds research)Formation of ARPA (funds research) Big boost for high school science, etc.Big boost for high school science, etc. NASA createdNASA created

George Orwell - 1984George Orwell - 1984 Orwell – British leftist Orwell – British leftist

journalist & novelistjournalist & novelist Published 1948Published 1948 Critique of Stalinism Critique of Stalinism

Several famous conceptsSeveral famous concepts Big BrotherBig Brother NewspeakNewspeak DoublethinkDoublethink control of past = control of control of past = control of

futurefuture Influential use of futureInfluential use of future

Ray BradburyRay Bradbury

Well known as SF writer in 40s & 50sWell known as SF writer in 40s & 50s Martian Chronicles issued as book 1950Martian Chronicles issued as book 1950 Fantastic, nostalgic, small townFantastic, nostalgic, small town

Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 1951 in Galaxy, 1953 as book1951 in Galaxy, 1953 as book Popular dystopiaPopular dystopia

Read widely as “mainstream” authorRead widely as “mainstream” author

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Earliest novels were science fictionEarliest novels were science fiction Player Piano, 1952 – automationPlayer Piano, 1952 – automation Sirens of Titan, 1959 – religionSirens of Titan, 1959 – religion Cat’s Cradle, 1963 – science & moralityCat’s Cradle, 1963 – science & morality

Slaughterhouse-Five, 1969Slaughterhouse-Five, 1969 Hugely popular “mainstream” novelHugely popular “mainstream” novel

Kilgore TroutKilgore Trout recurring character – SF writerrecurring character – SF writer

Paranoia: Alien InvasionParanoia: Alien Invasion Aliens disguised as Aliens disguised as

humans in filmshumans in films Invasion of the Body Invasion of the Body

Snatchers – 1956Snatchers – 1956 I Married a Monster from I Married a Monster from

Outer Space (1958)Outer Space (1958) And in PrintAnd in Print

The Puppet Masters The Puppet Masters (Heinlein) – 1951(Heinlein) – 1951

The Cold War in SFThe Cold War in SF

Surprisingly little direct coverageSurprisingly little direct coverage Other than nuclear aftermath storiesOther than nuclear aftermath stories Interest in war stories fades somewhatInterest in war stories fades somewhat

Some treatment of CommunistsSome treatment of Communists Who? (Algis Budrys) – 1958Who? (Algis Budrys) – 1958

More general sense of paranoiaMore general sense of paranoia Philip K. Dick - Time Out of Joint (1959)Philip K. Dick - Time Out of Joint (1959)

MeanwhileMeanwhile

JRR Tolkien – Lord of the RingsJRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings Published 1954-1955Published 1954-1955 Seen as allegory of WWIISeen as allegory of WWII

Builds cult following through 1960sBuilds cult following through 1960s