Media Narratives and Foreign Policy Shifts: Dutch Newspaper Portrayals of the Soviet Union's Dissolution (1988–1991) and its Impact on Dutch Foreign Policy

This paper examines the interplay between the Dutch newspapers, public opinion and foreign policy. More specifically, it investigates the Dutch newspaper coverage of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the subsequent influence on Dutch public opinion, and the potential impact on changes in Dutch foreign policy during this period. The role of the media is pivotal in both historical and contemporary during conflicts, serving as the primary source of information for individuals regarding global events, especially those beyond the personal experience of the reader. By uncovering how the Dutch newspapers portray foreign events, this paper aims to increase our understanding of the methods used by the Dutch media to influence the opinion of the public towards foreign issues. The role of the media in influencing Dutch foreign policy is determined through two analyses. First, four of the largest Dutch newspapers at the time, the NRC, Volkskrant, Telegraaf, and Parool are used to see how these covered six key moments during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. These key moments, or case studies are: 1) Estonia declaring its sovereignty, 2) the fall of the Berlin Wall, 3) the reunification of Germany, 4) the end of the Warsaw pact, 5) the August coup attempt, and finally 6) the official dissolution of the Soviet Union. The research investigates the framing mechanisms utilized by the Dutch newspapers. Additionally, an analysis of Dutch foreign policy documents is conducted, ranging from parliamentary debates, letters from the minister of foreign affairs and transcriptions from meetings of the European Community (EC) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This paper finds that the Dutch newspapers consistently employed a variety of frames in their coverage of the different case studies. However, determining the exact influence of these frames on Dutch public opinion and subsequent changes in Dutch foreign policy proved challenging. The analysis suggests that multinational alliances, specifically the EC and NATO, played a more critical role in shaping Dutch foreign policy strategy during the collapse of the Soviet Union.