Von Eschen’s Stachmo Blows up The World addresses The United States’ involvement in the Cold War through the lens of The State Department’s Jazz Diplomacy program. Von Eschen illustrates the process, problems, and hurdles that the U.S had to address to succeed in the Cold War. While Jazz diplomacy was able to successfully carry out its goals, which included promoting American ideals abroad, and easing international tension, it was not accomplished through the exact means the State Department had hoped for.
The United States’ State Department hoped that jazz diplomacy would be able to aid in promoting American ideals aboard. In specific, it was hoped that not only jazz diplomacy would be able to promote equality and democracy abroad but also that these core values were followed at home. While jazz players, such as Dizzy Gillespie, liked the idea of participating in jazz diplomacy they did not feel the need to shy away from America’s own faults such as racial segregation (Von Eschen, 34). Their honesty was refreshing to citizens aboard, which in turn, developed more support for the United States, but was not a part of the State Department’s plans. …show more content…
Gillespie played in many countries including Pakistan, and Turkey where he insisted on playing for everyone and not just the elite (Von Eschen, 35). Gillespie wanted everyone to enjoy his music regardless of class since he too was in a minority; he knew the value of being included and being treated as an equal. While this was against the State Department’s plan decisions like these were instrumental to jazz diplomacy’s success. In order to win the hearts of other countries, America needed to embrace the general populace
The United States’ State Department hoped that jazz diplomacy would be able to aid in promoting American ideals aboard. In specific, it was hoped that not only jazz diplomacy would be able to promote equality and democracy abroad but also that these core values were followed at home. While jazz players, such as Dizzy Gillespie, liked the idea of participating in jazz diplomacy they did not feel the need to shy away from America’s own faults such as racial segregation (Von Eschen, 34). Their honesty was refreshing to citizens aboard, which in turn, developed more support for the United States, but was not a part of the State Department’s plans. …show more content…
Gillespie played in many countries including Pakistan, and Turkey where he insisted on playing for everyone and not just the elite (Von Eschen, 35). Gillespie wanted everyone to enjoy his music regardless of class since he too was in a minority; he knew the value of being included and being treated as an equal. While this was against the State Department’s plan decisions like these were instrumental to jazz diplomacy’s success. In order to win the hearts of other countries, America needed to embrace the general populace