The North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Representation of the image in the 1948–1949 Soviet press

The article analyzes the information image of NATO in the domestic press of 1948-1949, reveals its evolution and the specifics of representation, the dynamics of the quantitative expression of the topic in print media. The source basis of the research was the materials of the Soviet press of various levels. The central newspapers are Pravda, Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda (Moscow), the regional edition is East Siberian Pravda (Irkutsk), Krasny Sever (Vologda), the newspaper of the USSR Air Force Stalinsky Sokol (Moscow), the newspaper of the Moscow military district Red Warrior (Moscow), the Magnitogorsk Metal factory newspaper (Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works named after I.V. Stalin, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast). Statistical methods and content analysis were used in the analysis of press texts. It was revealed that the topic of NATO was more often raised in the central press - Pravda, Izvestia. The number of stories increased, reflecting both the process of increasing information about NATO and the increasing relevance of the topic. The number of reports published in the press about rallies and protests, and speeches by politicians increased. The texts of statements by leaders of foreign communist parties published in the press, speeches by citizens at rallies, responses from the foreign press - all this demonstrated broad international support for the USSR's position, emphasized its role as a defender of peace. The image of NATO, constructed in the Soviet press, was built on antitheses and contrasting oppositions, widely used in propaganda rhetoric. NATO represented the image of the enemy, and was created with the help of negative connotations. All negative characteristics of NATO can be grouped into two groups: "aggression" (focus on war, world domination, against the USSR, democratic countries, etc.) and "violation" (violation of previous international agreements, the UN Charter, the rights of citizens protesting for peace, etc.). In the domestic press, the connotations of the first group were "included" as early as 1948, appearing as indications of the US desire for world domination and statements about the aggressive, military orientation of the North Atlantic bloc. In 1949 the image of the "NATO aggressor" is preserved in the press, reinforced by comparisons with fascism, while at the same time the second legal aspect of the image is "turned on" - "NATO is a violator". Legal aspects come to the fore in the official statements of the USSR and are disseminated in the press. In fact, in 1949, the connotations "aggression" and "violation" became attributive characteristics of NATO in the Soviet press. It is important to note that the image of NATO was devoid of subjectivity and was viewed more as a tool to achieve the goals of the leading countries (primarily the United States), rather than as an independently operating organization. Therefore, clarifying the above-mentioned groups of NATO connotations, they can be defined as: "an instrument of aggression" and "the result of a violation". The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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