Through Dutch Eyes: Anti-Americanism in the Cold War. A Study of 'De Volkskrant' and 'De Telegraaf'

Abstract

This thesis examines the emergence of an anti-American sentiment in the Netherlands as a result of political events during the Cold War. This anti-American sentiment is analyzed as it emerged in two Dutch newspapers, De Volkskrant and De Telegraaf, which represent two segments of Dutch society. A conceptual framework, which focuses on the multidimensional nature of antiAmericanism and which is capable of determining the existence of anti-Americanism in the newspaper articles, is constructed. Three political events in the beginning, the middle and the end of the Cold War are selected and their coverage in the two newspapers is analyzed. Firstly, newspaper articles about the fight for Indonesian independence and the cessation of Marshall Aid are examined. Secondly, reports on the My Lai massacre are investigated. Lastly, the placement of cruise missiles in the Netherlands, or the double-track decision, and its coverage in the two newspapers is analyzed. Ultimately, it is concluded that the extent to which an anti-American sentiment arose in the Netherlands during the Cold War was not considerably large.

Keywords: anti-Americanism, Cold War, newspapers, De Volkskrant, De Telegraaf, Marshall Aid, Indonesian independence, My Lai Massacre, Double-Track Decision