Penetrating the Iron Curtain – the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations’ Exchange Programs Directed to “Friendly” Poles, 1948–1962/1968
Penetrating the Iron Curtain – the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations’ Exchange Programs Directed to “Friendly” Poles, 1948–1962/1968

Summary/Abstract: The research objectives of this article are to analyse one form of international philanthropy undertaken by two American private foundations: the Rockefeller and the Ford foundations. It poses questions about the possible impact the exchange programs directed to Poland in the early Cold War period had upon the opening of research opportunities to catch up with peers in the West. The article covers the time span between the first visit of the Rockefeller Foundation representatives and the year when both temporarily withdrew or suspended their extensive programs. The method of critically analysing archival documents of both foundations made it possible to explore the circumstances of their engagement, candidate selection procedures, and the different approaches to achieving set goals. It reveals that the Rockefeller Foundation focused on scientific results, leading to the ‘cross-fertilization’ of ideas, network creation, and the opening up opportunities, while the Ford Foundation aimed at long-term cultural diplomacy, impacting upon groups of ‘friendly’ recipients. The article explores several case studies of Polish grantees, showing the foundations’ non-discriminatory practices based on merit and the role these grantees might have exercised in the development of science, strengthening the free world, and promoting international understanding

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