Understanding Propaganda

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Understanding Propaganda

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

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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.

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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).

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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
  .

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Variations of Propaganda

• Psychological warfare/operations
• Public diplomacy
• Disinformation
• Public relations/ marketing/advertising

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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)...

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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

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Terrorism as Propaganda
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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

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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?

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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?

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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.