The Bourne Identity

Following the end of World War II, the United States and its allies became embroiled in a period of political turmoil and tension that would become known as the Cold War. The massive casualties of World War II, coupled with the use of the atom bomb, instilled fear in world leaders that another war could put an end to humanity. The United States became locked in a standoff with the Soviet Union, with each side threatening to use advanced technology, nuclear weapons, and violence if provoked by the other. As a result of mutual distrust between the word’s two competing imperial superpowers, each side resorted to covert operations and espionage to gain informational advantages without inciting open conflict. A key component of this tactic was political assassinations, with both sides carrying out covert murders that they hoped would turn the tide of geopolitics. At the same time, the competition for global influence between the US and the Soviet Union sparked or exacerbated wars and conflicts throughout the developing world, including in Vietnam and Korea. It is estimated that “more than 20 million people died in multiple conflicts in what was for most of the period known as the ‘third world.’ From Korea to Vietnam, Afghanistan to Guatemala, Angola to Nicaragua, Cambodia to Iran, the cold war reaped a devastating harvest” (Halliday, Fred. “Political Killing in the Cold War.” OpenDemocracy, 11 Aug. 2005).

The geopolitical turmoil of the Cold War permeates The Bourne Identity, as the primary conflict between Bourne and Carlos is a microcosm of the broader war between the United States and the Soviet Union. While Carlos was trained by the Russian KGB and has ties to underground communist militant groups including the Japanese Red Army and the Red Army Faction in West Germany, Bourne was trained by the United States and its allies during the Vietnam War and then taken under the wing of the CIA. Central to both characters are their hidden identities, a fact that exemplifies the overall feeling of covert operations and secrecy during the Cold War. Even while they interact with people across the globe, they manage to shroud themselves in secrecy, communicating through contacts, setting up chains of communication, and constantly shifting their appearance. While Bourne and Carlos are just two individuals, they stand in as representatives for their respective sides, with Carlos committing murders that greatly change the course of geopolitics.

In the novel, Ludlum explores the depths of the secrecy that occurred during the Cold War era through his glimpses into the CIA and the American government. At the first meeting of government officials, the congressman from the oversight committee expresses his exasperation over their lack of shared intel. Due to moles in government operations, secrecy, and the classification of information, issues like this were prominent throughout the American government. Even as he sits in a room with trusted officials from government surveillance agencies, David Abbott keeps his information about Bourne to himself, allowing the chaos at the CIA and NSC (National Security Council) to ensue—while choosing to keep the knowledge of Bourne’s operations within Treadstone. Through their conversations, Ludlum emphasizes the wasted resources, manpower, and government operations that stemmed from the insistence on secrecy and deception.