STATUS OF NATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROGRAMS IN THE NEAR EAST, SOUTH ASIA, AND AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000400020049-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 2003
• Sequence Number: 49
• Content Type: REPORT

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SECURITY INFOR; rso
Status of National Psychological Programs
in the Near East, South Asia,
and Africa
BASIC QUESTIONS
Extensive comments on these questions are set forth in the Divi-
sion's memorandum for ADPC, entitled "Area Considerations in the De-
velopment of a National Cold War Strategy: the Near East," 7 March
1952. Largely for the sake of emphasis, the following brief comments
are offered:
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An actual policy conflict exists with
respect to the United States policy of supporting the maintenance of
France's position in North Africa, and the policy of self-determination,
which affects the development of a national psychological program not
only in French North Africa but throughout the African, Arab, and
Asian worlds.
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of impartiality as between the two.
2, United States capabilities have increased, and Soviet in-
fluence relatively lessened, in India over the past year, developments
which have taken place largely as a result of Soviet-Communist actions
and of the evolution in Indian thinking, rather than as a result of
direct United States action. However, it should be noted that the
same period has witnessed a decrease in United States capabilities
in Iran, Egypt, and French North Africa, and, to a lesser extent, in
Turkey. In Iran, and Egypt, these developments have taken place
largely as a result of elements outside the control of the United
States Government; in French North Africa, the United States must bear
a measure of responsibility; in Turkey,
Ithe responsibility may lie
in inept handling of the Turks or in a more optimistic appraisal of
our capabilities than now appears warranted.
3. On the basis of experience during the past year, our capability
to combat and counter Communism in Africa, the Near East, and South
Asia should be reinforced and developed. However, since the primary
security problem is the growth and exercise of irresponsible national-
ism in the area, we should greatly expand our efforts to utilize nation al-
ist forces for our own purposes, by endeavoring to direct them away from
their more destructive tendencies and into channels which will be rela-
tively compatible with United States interests, namely: to endeavor
to turn the force of nationalism against the Communists; to direct it
against political corruption; to focus it upon demands for social reform
22 and economic progress.
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and economic progress.
4. Major deterrents to successful prosecution of a national
psychological-program in the NEA area are the rise of irresponsible
nationalism, accompanied by anti Westernism, anti-colonialism, religious
extremism, and xenophobia; economic instability and social unrest; racism;
regional disputes, such as the Palestine and Kashmir problems; inter-
national disputes, such as the Anglo-Egyptian, Anglo-Iranian, and
Franco-Tunisian controversies; and political ineptitude and irresponsi-
bility. Our alliances with Great Britain and France also represent
significant impediments to the successful conduct of our national psycho-
logical program in the area, for several reasons: first, the serious
policy divergencies between the United States and Britain over Iran
and Egypt and between the United States and France over French North
Africa; and, second, the tendency of the Near Eastern states to iden-
tify the United States position with those of Britain and France,
respectively, in connection with the controversies of the Near Eastern
states with those powers.
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