This book was written in response to the wishes of several readers of my book, Propaganda Techniques, who wanted to have me probe somewhat deeper into the subject of propaganda. After some discussions with teachers and students, I used some of their ideas to come up with ten questions. This gave me the title of this book , Propaganda : A Question and Answer Approach, Having developed a list of question I went about the task of trying to answer them as best as I could. My hope is that the book will be useful to teachers, students, persuasive writers and advertisers as well as general readers.
PROPAGANDA
A Question and Answer ApproachBy Henry ConservaAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Henry Conserva
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4389-7441-5Contents
Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................vIntroduction...................................................................................................................viiChapter 1 - What terms should be defined in exploring this topic?..............................................................1Chapter 2 - What makes people vulnerable to propaganda?........................................................................5Chapter 3 - Why is propaganda so vital and necessary?..........................................................................9Chapter 4 - How can we guard against propaganda based on false information or an extremely one-sided view?.....................13Chapter 5 - Who are some famous persuaders in world history?...................................................................17Chapter 6 - What is the evolutionary history of persuasion?....................................................................41Chapter 7 - What are some often overlooked forms of propaganda?................................................................55Chapter 8 - Who uses propaganda?...............................................................................................61Chapter 9 - What might be the future of propaganda?............................................................................65Chapter 10 - What are some propaganda techniques?..............................................................................67Bibliography...................................................................................................................157
Chapter One
WHAT TERMS SHOULD BE DEFINED IN EXPLORING THE SUBJECT? 1. Propaganda:
There are many definitions of the word propaganda. Some definitions are simple, perhaps to a fault. Other definitions are complex. Some definitions are restrictive, others more inclusive. Here a few selected definitions of propaganda.
Propaganda is a one sided communication designed to influence peoples thinking and behavior.
Propaganda is the art of persuasion. As a sharp knife in the hands of a skilled surgeon can save a life, in the hands of a murderer a life can be taken. Propaganda can be put to use for both good and evil purposes.
The more or less systematic effort to manipulate other peoples beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols. We humans live in a symbolic universe.
Propaganda includes all communications in trying to sell something. This definition would include advertising.
Propaganda is communication who's argument relies on twisted faulty logic, misinformation, or disinformation.
Propaganda is communication that favors emotion over reason.
Propaganda is communication that favors belief over experience, evidence, or reason.
Propaganda is the systematic propagation of a given doctrine or of allegations reflecting its views or interests.
Propaganda is the manipulation of symbolic communication.
The art of persuasion. (the authors choice)
Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation aimed at serving an agenda. At its root, the denotation of propaganda is "to propagate (actively spread) a philosophy or point of view." the most common use of the term (historically) is in political contexts; in particular to refer to certain efforts sponsored by governments or political groups.
Propaganda refers to any persuasive technique, whether in writing, speech, films, or other means that attempts to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior, of a group for the benefit of the person or organization using it. Propagandists try to put across an idea, good or bad, rather than discover the truth though reasoned argument and persuasion. The goal of a propagandist is to mold behavior to support their cause without concern for the interest or benefit of the audience.
2. White propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source, and is characterized by gentler methods of persuasion, such as standard public relations techniques and one-sided presentation of an argument.
3. Black propaganda often pretends to be from a friendly source but is actually from an adversary. Black propaganda is characterized by it's presentation of false information or elicit a desired response, and is often sued in covert military psychological operations by large networked organizations such as terror networks or governments.
4. Grey propaganda may come from an adversarial source pretending to be friendly or neutral , and presents misleading information in a more insidious manner that white propaganda. In scale these different types of propaganda can also be defined by the potential of true and correct information to complete with the propaganda. For example, opposition to white propaganda is often readily found and may slightly discredit the propaganda source.
5. Indoctrination is the teaching and acceptance of a system of thought uncritically.
6. "Brain washing" is a particular form of propaganda. The term is defined as an intensive indoctrination, usually political, aimed at changing a persons basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with a fixed and unquestioned set of beliefs. "Brain washing" was first popularized by Edward Hunter by his 1951 book, Brainwashing in Red China. Brain washing was his translation for a Chinese term, "hsinao" meaning roughly "cleansing the mind". " Brain washing" was coined during the Korea war when a number of American prisoners of war violated military codes after being captured, imprisoned, interrogated, and tortured by the north Koreans and the Chinese.
7. "Spin" is the practice of interpreting statements or stories to benefit a person or group or to attack a person or group in an adversarial position. To spin is to offer a contention, usually specious, in response to a critical argument or a negative news story it does not necessarily involve lying or misleading any one about factual matters. "Spin" often but not always implies disingenuous deceptive and/or highly manipulated tactics.
8. A "spin doctor" is an advisor or a politician who interprets or slants statements or stories to the media in his or hers client's favor.
9. Enculturation is the process by which human infants learn their culture.
10. Persuasion is the act of winning over someone to a course of action by reasoning or inducement. Persuasion attempts to win "the heart and mind" of the target. Thus persuasion must induce attitude change, which entails affective (emotion-based) change.
Chapter Two
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO PROPAGANDA?
It's difficult, if not impossible, to determine what makes people vulnerable to persuasion and propaganda messages. I will indulge in speculation and list a few possible reasons for human gullibility in this matter.
The human condition is that we are mostly ignorant about most things. Many people have trouble, from time to time, trying to figure out their own behavior. Ignorance makes us rely on faith and that opens the door to your mind from the propagandist's point of view. In my experience most political elections, religious beliefs and marriages are acts of faith. We tend to vote, pray, marry and hope for the best.
Many people are poorly educated in most areas of knowledge and they often have deficiencies in their critical thinking skills. People often seem to want answers to questions that are unanswerable. The propagandist is there to provide answers he or she has chosen to promote.
Many people are devoted to the KISS principle, (Keep It Simple Stupid). Complicated explanations are generally not popular but simple explanations and quick fixes are.
The more the mass media resides in the hands of a few powerful individuals or corporations the easier it is to indoctrinate the masses. In a dictatorship with one party rule the government monopolizes the media. In a democracy large and wealthy corporations and various special interest groups often try to control as much as they can of the communication industry.
Humans have often been defined as being rational creatures. It is equally valid, in my opinion, to define humans as emotional beings. Logic, reason and science are often dismissed in the minds of many people. Most if not all of us are filled with biases and prejudices that make us easy prey for a propagandist who knows how to "press our buttons". Adolf Hitler could always get a German crowd stirred up by the mention of the Versailles Treaty. One of the most important biases a human being has is to quickly accept statements that support his or her convictions. Propagandists can often get an audience to go along with them by telling the truth but not the whole truth. The United States Army tells young prospective recruits to "Be all you can be and join up" These young recruits are not told that two things they can be are dead and wounded.
People are often more vulnerable to propaganda messages when they are mentally or physically tired. After a long day at work a person's critical thinking skills may lack their usual strength.
A propagandist with charisma, a great voice, or a stunning appearance can stir up a crowd. Adolf Hitler really knew how to win over an audience with his bombastic speaking style filled with well practiced gestures accompanied with catch phrases. Many people are conformists. Once a propagandist gets a crowd roaring with enthusiasm, you can count on others initially less attracted to the propaganda message joining with the crowd in a show of support for what the speaker is saying. Self-centeredness and selfishness plus a great deal of greediness makes it easy for many people to swallow any propaganda message that appeals to these characteristics.
The Pollyanna effect can be infectious and lead to an acceptance of a propaganda message. Some people have a foolishly or blindly optimistic view of people, events or visions of the future. Honest, God-fearing and moral folks who feel that all people are fundamentally good make a marvelous target for any unscrupulous propagandist.
Most of us, at least sometimes, like to escape reality. Entertainment such as sports, motion pictures, radio, video games, television, day and night dreams and long walks in the park are just a few such escape practices. Often people like to hear utopian stories of the glory of a perfect world in which we all live prosperous and happy lives. Propagandists prey on people who feel that they deserve to live in fine homes, drive luxury cars and tour the world on luxurious vacations and send their children to the finest universities. Is it any wonder that politicians are notorious for making grandiose promises to the electorate? People who lack curiosity and are a bit lazy when it comes to thinking and analyzing messages fall prey to propagandists. People with submissive personality traits tend to yield to authority delight propagandists. An absence of any alternative points of view, usually due to censorship, makes acceptance of propaganda messages easier. This is why dictatorial governments rely on censorship to manipulate public opinion in their nations.
It's generally easy to remember something that is repeated often. People remember slogans and phrases with greater ease than they remember entire speeches. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's statement that "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" has been often repeated and is easily remembered. Who remembers the rest of his speech? Propagandists like to come up with slogans and sayings and repeat them often so that you'll not forget them.
Chapter Three
WHY IS PROPAGANDA VITAL AND NECESSARY?
Some selected reason for the vitality and necessity of propaganda:
All humans live in a culture. Culture can be defined as a design for living and this world has thousands of designs. Even within a culture there are many sub-cultures, cultures that differ in some ways from the dominant culture. Sub-cultures have some different rules, beliefs, behaviors and values that set them apart. One characteristic shared by all cultures and sub- cultures is that they try to survive. The major way a culture is perpetuated is through the process of enculturation. Enculturation is the way in which young people are taught the basic beliefs, behaviors, values and customs of their respective cultures. One essential way to do this is to use many propaganda techniques to ensure that young people will grow up to keep their cultures alive and well. In a sense we are trapped by our cultures. We all at birth have no control over what political system we'll live under, what language we'll speak and, in most cases, what religion will be indoctrinating us. Life resembles a crap shoot!
In America, and increasingly in the world, we see an enormous economic network. One term used to describe this economic phenomenon is globalization. One of the engines that drives an economy based on the purchasing power of consumers and the idea that the consumption of goods and services will grow indefinitely is advertising. Advertising is loaded with propaganda designed to get consumers to spend their money. What might happen if there were no advertisements. We most likely would witness a massive economic depression. Ideologies need constant reinforcement to insure that their messages and goals can be achieved. Without a constant repetition of ideas, , rites, rituals, observances, use of signs and symbols, ideologies can weaken and even disappear. There are political, economic, religious and social ideologies of all kinds. Propaganda is a necessity to strengthen any ideology. In presidential campaigns in the United States millions of dollars are spent in appealing to the voters. Many religious groups advertise themselves on radio and television. The capitalist belief system is widely advertised in the mass media by corporate America. Most people live in a world in which suffering and death are all too common. Humans universally seem to desire comfort, security and hope. Often people want to believe that their lives can be made better. Because knowledge is finite while ignorance is infinite we are often forced to sidestep reason and logic in making choices to turn to faith. Propaganda can easily be used to fashion messages to the faithful. Without propaganda many people would lose the joy, comfort, hope and solace they desperately long for. Propaganda also helps people con themselves into a commitment to a faith in either a religion or ideology of some sort. Propaganda is an aid to groups trying to maintain the status quo (things as they are) as well as to groups that want to change the status quo. Any person or group seeking power will rely heavily on propaganda. War and propaganda go hand in hand. People need to be convinced that what their nation is doing is right, just and necessary. People need to be made to feel that any reluctance to support their nation in its conflicts is unpatriotic and close to being a treasonable action. In war propaganda the enemy is usually portrayed as being evil, monstrous, barbaric and uncivilized. All nations at war desperately need their people to support their troops. For this purpose propaganda is essential. Propaganda is also put to work to try to demoralize the enemy.
Propaganda can be useful in educating people. This can be seen in messages of things to do and things not to do. We are cautioned not to smoke cigarettes to save us from possible lung cancer. We are also told not to take illegal drugs, not to eat fatty foods, not to drink and drive. In sexual matters we are told to just say no. In messages we hear what to do in an earthquake, what rules to follow in a big fire, how to make our homes safer and that we shouldn't go to the beach to see a tsunami wave. Propaganda seems to be a vital element in the "mating game". Men use any number of "lines" in order to get the attention of a prospective mate. Women try to make themselves attractive in a variety of ways. Many animals use a great many persuasive ways to win over a mate for propaganda is not an exclusively human activity when it comes to mating.
Propaganda is used to relieve people experiencing fear and stress. When the Soviet Union began the space age in 1957 many Americans worried that we were about to lose our supremacy in science and technology. People worried about the ability of our military to provide a high level of security for the nation. When President Kennedy presented his plan for America to send astronauts to the moon it lifted the spirits of millions of nervous Americans.
Chapter Four
HOW CAN WE GUARD AGAINST PROPAGANDA BASED ON FALSE INFORMATION OR AN EXTREMELY ONE-SIDED VIEW?
We all need to protect ourselves against bad propaganda. I have selected a few ways I rely on to protect myself from unscrupulous propagandists.
In any propaganda message, try to identify the techniques being used by the messenger. In any propaganda message, list the arguments being used by the messenger, then later on try to think of counter arguments. Think of taking a course in critical thinking or at least purchase a book on the subject. I did both and it really helped me. Try to check the accuracy of the information being delivered by a speaker or a writer. When possible, make an investigation of issues in your local community. For instance, visit schools, ask questions of the teachers and administrators and custodians. Talk to police and fire personnel, politicians, gardeners, etc. Record and replay a spoken propaganda message in order to seek out fallacies in the message. Try to track down the sources of the information being delivered.
Investigate the background and credentials of the propagandist. Access to a computer should make this an easy task.
Try to determine the agenda, the goals and the spin direction of the messenger. It is said that hope is the antidote for fear, but I feel that faith of any kind is often not accompanied by compelling evidence in support of it. Try not to be carried away by faith alone. Faith can be the dart that pierces the armor of an otherwise critical thinker. Adopt a skeptical attitude toward all mass media messages. Being skeptical will induce you to search for evidence that will either support or refute a statement.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from PROPAGANDAby Henry Conserva Copyright © 2009 by Henry Conserva. Excerpted by permission.
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