Description
As BISA marks its 50th anniversary, it is an ideal moment to reflect on the evolution of international studies and the role of propaganda in shaping historical and political narratives. This paper engages with the intersection of history, memory, and politics in international studies, while addressing the gaps in war propaganda studies.
The propaganda study, particularly in wartime, has piqued the interest of many researchers over the last decades. Furthermore, women’s portrayals in WWII propagandistic campaigns have attracted specialists from various fields, gender studies, gender politics, national identity, or memory studies.
Existing research examines women’s roles through the lens of a single political regime, often overlooking the complex interplay of contrasting political ideologies. I aim to fill this gap by analyzing the dual instrumentalization of female pilots, specifically the White Squadron, within both Nazi and post-war communist propaganda in Romania. By examining this case study, I explore how gendered narratives were used by these two undemocratic regimes to manipulate public opinion, while also considering how the women themselves understood their roles in these conflicting political contexts.
The White Squadron, a group of female pilots who served in medical evacuation and reconnaissance during WWII, was initially celebrated as symbols of national pride and female empowerment. However, after the communists took over, their image shifted dramatically: they were vilified as traitors, responsible for war crimes. This paper compares the propaganda narratives of both fascist and communist regimes, examining how each constructed the image of these women to align with their respective ideologies. Fascist propaganda portrayed them as heroes, while communist narratives framed them as enemies.
In addition to state propaganda, this study analyzes the autobiographical memories of the female pilots through their diaries and testimonies, by investigating how these women navigated their dual roles as both symbols of national pride and betrayal.
