The 1972 Soviet-American Youth Conference: The Illusion of Consensus

Abstract

This article examines the 1972 Soviet-American Youth Conference as a transnational event during the détente era, exploring its attempt to foster solidarity and mutual understanding between Soviet and American youth. Despite its lofty goals, the conference instead reinforced stereotypes: Soviet youth presented as a monolithic, patriotic bloc, while the Americans appeared disillusioned and fragmented. Jacobs argues that these dynamics reflected broader cultural and political differences, particularly regarding national consensus. The Soviet state’s rigid control over the delegation undermined the possibility of genuine dialogue, highlighting the complexities and failures of citizen-level Cold War cultural exchanges​