透過《今日世界》與世界連結：文明強國與壓迫處境的形塑與傳入

Connecting with the World through World Today: The Shaping and Dissemination of a Civilized Superpower and Oppressive Situations

《今日世界》在冷戰時期的臺灣扮演重要的角色，其為臺灣民眾瞭解國際局勢與美國文化思想的主要管道。在《今日世界》中，透過「第一世界」的民主政治、軍事實力、科學醫療與文化成就，塑造美國作為強國的形象；同時，對「第二世界」多為負面描繪，指其對外為侵略者、對內實施壓迫與專制，並描述百姓受到宣傳洗腦，呈現鮮明的二元對立。隨著冷戰局勢的變化，該雜誌的內容逐漸從政治、軍事議題轉向介紹美國社會的平權運動與多元文化，讓臺灣讀者能接觸到更多元的美國面貌，進一步強化對美國的認同。
在當時臺灣封閉的政治環境中，雖然《今日世界》帶有強烈的宣傳色彩，但確實也為臺灣社會帶來許多的國際資訊，開拓國際視野，並啟發了一代臺灣知識分子的思想與興趣，對後來的文學與藝術界產生深遠影響。

World Today played an important role in Taiwan during the Cold War, serving as a primary channel for the Taiwanese public to understand the international situation and American cultural thought. In World Today, the image of the United States as a superpower was shaped through the ''First World's'' democratic politics, military strength, science and medicine, and cultural achievements; Meanwhile, the ''Second World'' was mostly depicted negatively, described as external aggressors and internal implementers of oppression and autocracy, with descriptions of the common people being subjected to propaganda and brainwashing, presenting a sharp binary opposition. As the Cold War situation changed, the content of the magazine gradually shifted from political and military issues to introducing social equality movements and multiculturalism in American society, allowing Taiwanese readers to access a more diverse face of America and further strengthening their identification with the United States.
In the closed political environment of Taiwan at that time, although World Today carried strong propaganda colors, it indeed brought a wealth of international information to Taiwanese society and broadened international horizons, and inspired the thoughts and interests of a generation of Taiwanese intellectuals, exerting a profound influence on the later literary and artistic circles.