Historical context

The Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF) was founded in Berlin in June 1950 as an intellectual response to Soviet cultural propaganda during the Cold War. The aim of the organisation was to promote cultural freedom and counter totalitarian ideologies, especially communism. Over 100 people took part in the founding conference in Berlin, including prominent intellectuals, writers and philosophers from all over the world. (Wikipedia) (The New Criterion) (Quadrant).

The Congress for Cultural Freedom CCF was initially supported by the American government, including covert funding from the CIA, which was later uncovered in the 1960s. The aim of this funding was to influence global intellectual communities by supporting anti-communist cultural and literary activities. Despite this, the organisation managed to establish a significant presence, promote discussions on freedom and democracy and bring out influential publications such as “Encounter”, “Der Monat” and “Quadrant”. (Los Angeles Review of Books).

The Congress for Cultural Freedom in Berlin

The choice of Berlin as the venue was symbolic, as the city was at the forefront of the Cold War. The city’s resistance to the Soviet blockade had already made it a bastion of Western democratic values, making it an ideal location for the CCF’s efforts to mobilise intellectuals against totalitarianism. (Quadrant).

The legacy of the Congress for Cultural Freedom CCF is complex. During its active years, it successfully championed intellectual freedom and promoted important cultural and intellectual debates. However, revelations about its funding by the CIA have also sparked debates about the ethical implications of such covert support for cultural initiatives. Despite these controversies, the Congress for Cultural Freedom played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual landscape of the Cold War era.

From the Manifesto of the Congress for Cultural Freedom in Berlin, 1950:
“1. we consider it an axiomatic truth that freedom of thought is one of the inalienable human rights.
2. this freedom consists primarily in the right of the individual to form and express his own opinions, especially when they differ from those of the authorities. People become slaves when they are deprived of the right to say “no”.
3. freedom and peace are inextricably linked. In every country, under every regime, the overwhelming majority of the people fear war and reject it; the danger of war is present as soon as a government gags the organs of popular representation and thus prevents the people from saying “no” to war. ….”