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US universities began wave of overseas institution building in 1950s, largely sponsored by fed govt. Harold Stassen was prime mover. Universities became important diplomatic actors. Studying this project opens new angles on US development/modernization work @SHAFRhistorians #usih 
Large chunk of universities' overseas institution building was in the field of public administration. Many elites believed pub ad was critical for bringing modernity to developing countries. Part of modernization was about creating large-scale organizations. @ASPANational
US govt sought to use American universities to build states in many parts of the world, not just Vietnam. My book uses case studies of @Penn and @USC working to build a state in Pakistan. cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=801…
Academic leaders created a whole apparatus to study & foster this project, largely funded by @FordFoundation. Most important was @ACEducation Committee on Institutional Projects Abroad (CIPA); also organized research units at @michiganstateu @SyracuseU @PittTweet @IUBloomington
The very language of #TheInstrumentalUniversity - describing univ as an instrument - came from overseas institution building. Before Clark Kerr said in 1963 the univ was an instrument of national purpose, CIPA titled 1957 conf Universities as Instruments of Technical Cooperation
Before Clark Kerr created The Uses of the University in 1963, @FordFoundation Committee on the University and World Affairs in 1960 discussed propriety of external entities "using" university for their ends.
