Propaganda
| Propaganda link (Deception, Fraud, Statecraft) Powerbase Saidit Sourcewatch | |
|---|---|
| File:Propaganda customer.jpg | |
| Type | idea |
Propaganda is the deceitful use of information, such as deliberate lying (including lying by omission). The word has had negative connotations since the 19th century, so Edward Bernays coined a new phrase ("public relations") as a positive sounding alternative.
Propaganda is blatant, whereas media manipulation is more subversive.
Origins
Propaganda has been used by war makers for thousands of years.[1] Leaders have long exploited enemy images to inculcate fear or otherwise extend control over subjects. Historically, propaganda has assumed critical importance in times of war, in particular when a casus belli was sought to try to inflame public sentiment when starting a war. Propaganda has been produced on a large scale for around a century - i.e. since the time of WW1. In UK, MI7 was formed to exploit the commercially-controlled media, planting "fake news" to try to rally support against Germany.[2]
Research
- Full article: Propaganda/Research
- Full article: Propaganda/Research
Edward Bernays stated that Propaganda (and those who emanate it) are the hidden driving force behind "democracy", referring to propaganda as "the invisible government". Analysis of propaganda, especially "wartime propaganda" is a topic of history classes and communication sciences.
Reframing
Reframing means seeing things from a different point of view or in different light. In propaganda, however, this technique is used to deceive the public about the intent of measures, a mere glossing over of reality, in a power struggle over meaning of words. Edward Bernays, a widely acknowledged master of propaganda reframed the term propaganda itself as "public relations".[3] Other examples of positive reframing include "freedom fighters" (proxy army), "responsibility to protect" (war of aggression), "enhanced interrogation" (torture) and "countering disinformation" (psy-ops to shut down criticism).
Examples of negative reframing: "Propaganda" itself is used to smear critics, or "hate speech" if criticism is too unwieldy or ill-mannered. Fake news", which arose in November 2016[4] initially backfired but the intended devaluation of criticism was recaptured by throwing money at the campaign, which as of 2020 resulted in "fact checking" outlets. "Conspiracy theorist" was loaded with the connotation "wired", "hysteric", "paranoid" or "psychotic", insinuating mental insanity to counter criticism of the Warren Report, a powerful technique used successfully to this day and broadened to include "deniers" (skeptics) of "official truths".
Enemy images
- Full article: Enemy images
- Full article: Enemy images
Long running campaigns can be used to create and sustain enemy images that can be used to divide and conquer groups by promoting fear.
Rise in 21st Century
Propaganda in Western Europe seems to have returned to World War Two levels after the roll-back of the state in Europe and the United States. Multinational corporations have taken more and more power, and a complicit commercially-controlled media has become an integral part of that 'power grab' and increasingly ideologically aligned with it. Secrecy has become normal, even with governments no longer seeing themselves as serving the populations that elect and pay for them.
Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012
- Full article: Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012
- Full article: Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012
The Smith-Mundt Act originally did prohibit the use of propaganda, produced for foreign audiences, to be directed at domestic audiences in the United States. With the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 this was changed; originally justified with the explanation that it would help to inform expat communities in the US.[5] Early criticism cited the Department of Defense intention to get rid of the Smith-Mundt Act and other restrictions, "because it prevents information activities designed to prop up unpopular policies—like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan".[6] Robbie Martin noted that after the ban was lifted, the use of foreign news sources funded by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) did spike on Vice. He also notes that now many narratives friendly to the US government position first appear at media organizations overseen by the BBG before they become part of corporate media reporting.[7]
Fake News
- Full article: Fake News
- Full article: Fake News
After the 2016 US Presidential Election, in November 2016, the phrase "Fake News" was launched, with the help of commercially-controlled media. Perhaps counter intuitively to Wikispooks' readers, it was not used to describe the output of the corporate media, but instead, used to describe smaller, independent groups, especially websites. One list which has attracted particular attention was a list of 200 websites, including RT, Naked Capitalism, Zero Hedge and Wikispooks. This was published by the spooky ProporNot group, and cited as a source by the Washington Post.
Propagandists
- Full article: Propagandists
- Full article: Propagandists
External links
References
- ↑ https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/70-year-war-propaganda-built-cia
- ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38995205
- ↑ http://www.globalresearch.ca/war-by-media-and-the-triumph-of-propaganda/5418152
- ↑ This phrase was an unintended consequence of The Deep State's "fake news website" campaign
- ↑ https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/07/14/u-s-repeals-propaganda-ban-spreads-government-made-news-to-americans/
- ↑ https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mhastings/congressmen-seek-to-lift-propaganda-ban
- ↑ https://www.mintpressnews.com/planting-stories-in-the-press-lifting-of-us-propaganda-ban-gives-new-meaning-to-old-song/237493/