Correcting Misperceptions in Soviet-American Relations

Abstract

As glasnost slowly warms U.S.-Soviet relations, and citizen diplomacy initiatives proliferate, the need for innovative strategies for enhancing U.S.-Soviet communication has increased. Gone are the days when any contact whatever between Soviet and American citizens was cause for celebration. Increasingly, the success of citizen exchange hinges on their productivity and their depth of communication. Now, more than ever, exchanges can be expected to demand of their participants more than superficial mutuality and to produce ongoing alliances for constructive cooperation. The two events reported in this article exemplify productive and probing exchanges. They owe their success to the creative application of theories and techniques from family therapy to the realm of Soviet-American dialogue.