Jennifer Way's study The Politics of Vietnamese Craft uncovers a little-known chapter in the history of American cultural diplomacy, in which Vietnamese craft production was encouraged and shaped by the US State Department as an object for consumption by middle class America.



Way explores how American business and commerce, department stores, the art world and national museums variously guided the marketing and meanings of Vietnamese craft in order to advance American diplomatic and domestic interests. Conversely, American uses of Vietnamese craft provide an example of how the United States aimed to absorb post-colonial South Vietnam into the 'Free World', in a Cold War context of American anxiety about communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia.

Way focuses in particular on the part played by the renowned American designer Russel Wright, contracted by the US International Cooperation Administration's aid programs for South Vietnam to survey the craft industry in South Vietnam and manage its production, distribution and consumption abroad and at home. Way shows how Wright and his staff brought American ideas about Vietnamese history and culture to bear in managing the making of Vietnamese craft.

珍妮弗-韦的研究《越南工艺的政治》揭开了美国文化外交史上鲜为人知的一章，在这一章中，越南工艺生产被美国国务院鼓励和塑造为美国中产阶级消费的对象。

Way探讨了美国的商业、百货公司、艺术界和国家博物馆如何以各种方式引导越南工艺品的营销和含义，以促进美国的外交和国内利益。相反，美国对越南工艺品的使用提供了一个例子，说明美国如何在冷战时期对共产主义在整个东南亚蔓延的焦虑背景下，旨在将后殖民时代的南越吸收到 "自由世界 "中。

Way特别关注著名的美国设计师Russel Wright所扮演的角色，他受美国国际合作署对南越的援助项目委托，调查南越的手工业，并管理其在国外和国内的生产、分销和消费。Way展示了Wright和他的工作人员是如何将美国关于越南历史和文化的想法带入管理越南工艺品的制作中的。