Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 300-8-3

Title

Background Reports

Date(s)

1956 - 1989

Description Level

Series

Extent and medium (processed)

143 Archival boxes, 17.88 linear meters

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

Background Reports (BR) prepared for the use of the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were written on an ad hoc, irregular basis and concern not only the eight countries to which RFE used to broadcast but also Albania, the German Democratic Republic, Yugoslavia, the nonruling communist parties of the West, East-West political relations, the Committee of Mutual Economic Assistance, East-West trade and finance, the Warsaw Pact, and general ideology.

In 1965 Target Area Research and Analysis was changed to East Europe Research and Analysis with no change in functions or responsibilities.

Until 1974, BRs were also written on the USSR, China, Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Mongolia, and the Sino-Soviet dispute. Background Reports are of three types:
a. Long studies that cover a single subject in some breadth and depth and attempt to provide perspective, context, framework, and synthesis.
b. Short papers of a purely or predominantly analytical nature.
c. Short papers that provide an immediate assessment and description of a sudden development or new information or the latest developments in a running story. These are written for same-day programming use.

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

Unknown

Languages

English

Notes

Note

Background Reports were originally divided into a Country Series, a Foreign Relations Series, and a series solely devoted to the World Communist Movement and Miscellaneous (a series whose subject matter does not fit under the other categories), however in our finding aid all background reports are considered to be one series.

Description Control

Archivist's note

Arranged by Miklós Bányász and Tibor Szigeti, 2002; described by Pavol Salamon, November 22, 2002..