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Understanding Propaganda

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Title: Understanding Propaganda


1
Understanding Propaganda
  • Implications for International Broadcasting and
    Relations
  • Aziz Douai
  • International Communications
  • Spring 2007
  • Pennsylvania State University

2
(No Transcript)
3
Propaganda
  • Systematic, widespread dissemination or promotion
    of particular ideas, doctrines, and practices to
    further ones own cause or to damage an opposing
    one (Websters New World Dictionary).
  • Propaganda a symbolic means of achieving
    psychological influence and domination through
    persuasion.

4
Conflicting Connotations
  • Religious roots Roman Catholic Churchs anti
    Reformation attack led by Pope Gregory XVs The
    Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
    (1622).
  • Diversity of definitions and approaches to
    propaganda contradictory connotations (positive
    or negative), culminating in the popular
    pejorative modern uses of the term (control,
    manipulation and lies).

5
Truth and accuracy?
  • The U.S. Supreme Court in Meese vs. Keene (1986)
  • Political propaganda encompasses materials that
    are completely accurate and merit the highest
    respect, not just false information/argumentation
    .

6
Variations of Propaganda
  • Psychological warfare/operations
  • Public diplomacy
  • Disinformation
  • Public relations/ marketing/advertising

7
Techniques
  • Name callingCommie, Axis of Evil
  • Glittering generalitySmart Bombs, Old Europe
  • Image transfer the cross Uncle Sam
  • Testimonial
  • Plain folks
  • Card stackingselective use of information
  • Band wagon

8
Characteristics of Hostile Propaganda 1-
  • Mission supporting foreign policy (VOA). or
    serving as a surrogate home service (Radio
    Marti).
  • Intent Does it merely inform and persuade (BBC)
    or incite and coerce (Radio Dixie)?
  • Source Government, individual or some other
    entity? Clandestine stations (black/gray) versus
    legal/known stations (white)

9
2-
  • Channel ITU regulates radio frequency
    spectrumshort wave radio for broadcasts
    targeting foreign audiences, AM domestic purposes
    only--sovereignty
  • Content Disagreement on what constitutes
    propagandaalthough some attempted to classify
    hostile propaganda as engaging in war-mongering,
    subversive, defamatory propaganda

10
Wartime Propaganda
  • Lasswell (1927) propaganda was important to
  • mobilize hatred of the enemy
  • preserve friendship of allies
  • procure the cooperation of friendly nations
  • demoralize the enemy
  • e.g. Highly nationalistic documentaries were
    produced during the war e.g. Youre a Sap Mr.
    Jap (1942) Disneys Donald Gets Drafted (1942)
    or Reagans Jap Zero (1943)

11
WWII
  • Means of propaganda during world wars leaflets,
    motion pictures, radio (the limitless medium
    according to Josef Goebbels).
  • Radio propaganda penetrated national borders,
    sought to demoralize the morale of enemies, and
    amass domestic supportNazis, BBC language
    services, and VOA (1942)...

12
Cold War Propaganda
  • Eisenhower administrations launch of Atoms for
    Peace
  • Radio Moscow responded with a vigorous campaign
    to promote socialist ideas and regimes.
  • The Red Scare and the Nuclear Armageddon Duck
    and Cover

13
Terrorism as Propaganda
14
Terrorism
  • State versus non-state entity asymmetrical
    warfare in independence wars
  • Modern terrorism Al Qaeda (Radical Islamists)
    and their videos
  • Placing populations at risk, or the perception of
    risk, helps mobilize public opinion

15
Effects
  • Is it an effective or a dysfunctional instrument
    of foreign policy?
  • Effect on audiences Limited effects of media in
    generalpersuasion and acceptance of the message,
    is it preaching to the converted?

16
Effect on international relations
  • Were Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
    effective in combating communism?
  • Ineffective or useful waste of resources?
  • An instrument of instability and violence within
    target countries?

17
Sources
  • Nichols, John S. (2003). Propaganda. In Donald H.
    Johnsotn (Ed.), Encyclopedia of International
    Media and Communications (Vol.3, pp.597-606). San
    Diego Academic Press.
  • Straubhaar, Joseph D. and Boyd, Douglas A.
    (2007). International Broadcasting. In Yahya R.
    Kamalipour (Ed.). Global communication (2nd ed.,
    pp. 133-156). Belmont, CA Wadsworth.
  • Vincent, Richard C. (2007). Global Communication
    and Propaganda. In Yahya R. Kamalipour, (Ed.).
    Global communication (2nd ed., pp. 232-270).
    Belmont, CA Wadsworth.
  • Douai, Aziz. (2007). International broadcasting
    on the World Wide Web Exploring web diplomacy.
    Paper accepted for presentation at the
    International Division of the BEAs 52nd Annual
    Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2007.
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