Abstract: | The tremendous propaganda programs of the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and mainland China are an apparent effort to make up for the advantage the Western countries have had in controlling mass news media there and attracting students to their ideology and secondly to build up the individual images of the respective members of the bloc. The propaganda covers a wide range of activities: short-wave radio broadcasts; distribution of national news agency bulletins; infiltration of professional radio, television and newspaper organizations; the construction of technical facilities such as radio transmitters, printing presses, telecommunication equipment; direct mail propaganda; the distribution of books in African languages; and attractive offers to students for all-expensive courses. Generally the impact of all this propaganda is relative little. |