The review examines the work of Finnish researcher Pia Koivunen, dedicated to the history of the World Festivals of Youth and Students. It analyzes the significance of Koivunen’s contribution to understanding Soviet public diplomacy, focusing on her approach to exploring the cultural and ideological dimensions of the festivals held between 1947 and 1957. Both the book and the review place particular emphasis on the 1957 festival in Moscow, regarded as the pinnacle of Soviet cultural diplomacy. Furthermore, the review assesses the potential of Koivunen’s methodological approach and source base for advancing research on various aspects of Soviet social history and the broader field of public diplomacy.
cultural diplomacy; public diplomacy; World Festival of Youth and Students.