Psychological warfare and communication science: investigation on the relation between security agencies and the social sciences

The military-security changes of the years leading up to the Second World War until the early 60’s had not only great effects on the fabrication and growth of the natural sciences and modern technologies, but also played a significant role in shaping and transforming the various social sciences trends. The impact of military forces on the social sciences in the years of the Cold War were at highest level, and then there were new trends in the relationship between security agencies and the social sciences in the years later. This article seeks to explain what kind of relationship the social sciences in the years after the Second World War have established a relationship with the security institutions; how this relationship has evolved so far and how it has influenced the development of the social sciences? To this end, the book “the communication and psychological warfare” by Christopher Simpson was selected as the starting point for the discussion. And his findings about the role of the US government’s psychological war program in shaping modern communication knowledge has been used as a case study on the relationship between security agencies and Social science. In the wider context, this relationship is being explored and analyzed and the three main courses are identified and explained. Then, the effects of the relationships of security agencies with researchers on building social science were considered in key effects. At the end, recommendations have been made to promote the relationship between security agencies in Iran and the social sciences.