Edward Hunter (journalist)

Edward Hunter (1902 – 1978) was an American journalist and writer, known for his anti-communist views and for popularizing the term "brainwashing" during the Cold War. He was a controversial figure, with his work being both influential and criticized for its lack of rigorous evidence and potential connections to psychological warfare programs.

Hunter's career spanned various roles in journalism and public relations. He worked as a foreign correspondent in Asia, particularly during the Chinese Civil War. It was his experiences in this region that fueled his later writings on communist tactics.

He is most remembered for his 1951 book, Brain-Washing in Red China: The Calculated Destruction of Men's Minds, which introduced the concept of "brainwashing" to a wider audience. Hunter argued that communist regimes employed systematic techniques of psychological manipulation to indoctrinate individuals and suppress dissent. The book became highly influential in shaping Western perceptions of communist methods and anxieties about ideological subversion.

Later in life, Hunter became associated with far-right and anti-communist groups. His work has been the subject of debate, with some praising him for his early warnings about communist threats, while others accuse him of exaggeration, sensationalism, and contributing to a climate of fear and paranoia during the Cold War. His methods and the accuracy of his claims regarding "brainwashing" have been questioned by scholars in psychology, sociology, and history.