Introduction to Public Opinion and Propaganda - Research Paper

Introduction

Propaganda is misleading and biased information that is used to influence individuals by presenting facts that encourage a particular perception. Propaganda is also manipulating an audience into producing irrational or emotional responses ("Introduction to Propaganda", 2019). It involves the dissemination of information. This paper summarizes the discussion of propaganda in the films provided. Its purpose is to educate people about propaganda and warn them about the dangers of propaganda.

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The term propaganda was first used in 1622 by the Catholic Church in Europe in missionary activities. Pope Gregory XV created the congregation for the propagation of the faith. This congregation was a group of cardinals that the pope charged with regulating affairs of the church in heathen lands and spreading faith. The congregation was supposed to defend Catholicism against the Protestants. In the beginning, the term propaganda was an honorable word. The humankind respected all religious activities that were involved with propaganda. It is in later years that the word became known by people as dishonest and selfish.

Throughout history, propaganda has been there. Modern propaganda emerged in the 20th century ("Introduction to Propaganda", 2019). The difference between other forms of propaganda and modern propaganda is the use of mass media like radio and television. Propagandists use social media to reach as many people as possible. The United States and Britain were the first nations to introduce propaganda. The differences between the parliament and kings in England involved propaganda. In the movement for independence, America used propaganda as a weapon. Adolf Hitler once asserted that all that mattered was propaganda.

One of the forefathers of propaganda was an American author known as George Creel (1876-1953). He was an ally of the then American president Woodrow Wilson. President Woodrow asked George to organize a committee (the Creel commission). The purpose of this commission was to change the attitude of the Americans into becoming a war patriotic country. Noah Chomsky describes the success of the commission as highly. It managed to change the peace-loving community into a war-thirst population that wanted to tear Germany apart. Britain also used propaganda during World War 1.

Politicians often use propaganda to manipulate the public and brainwash people into thinking the way they want them to. Politicians use propaganda to affect the decisions of a citizen. Ellul describes propaganda as a sociological phenomenon. He goes on further to state that propaganda is not something that people use for some purposes. Many people become victims of propaganda because they base it on lies and they believe that whatever is true can never be propaganda

Political Propaganda

Political propaganda is the propaganda that is used by a political organization to achieve political goals. An administration, a government or a party influences the public into changing their behavior. Its themes are generally political, and the government, the, and the party determine its goals. Propagandists use this technique to disseminate and distort ideologies to make particular political ideas and acts more acceptable by the public ("Propaganda and The Seven Techniques", 2019). All political propaganda is vertical propaganda. Vertical propaganda is where a leader creates propaganda and stands at the head of the rest of the population. Classical propaganda is made by a politician, a religion head or a leader who uses his superior position to influence the people under him. There are two types of political propaganda; strategic and tactical. Tactical propaganda aims at obtaining immediate results within a specified period. Strategic propaganda, on the other hand, establishes the platform for campaigns and arguments.

The Nature of Propaganda

Propaganda has some characteristics. One of the features of propaganda is that it is made deliberately by propagandists with the motive of manipulating people into adopting certain behaviors and ideas. Propagandists achieve this by attacking the individual both unconsciously and consciously and in his private and public life.

Other characteristics of propaganda are as follows. Propaganda presents its ideas unclearly or in a biased manner. It manipulates people into thinking that the perspective of a specific issue is the absolute truth ("Propaganda and The Seven Techniques", 2019). Adolf Hitler said that the purpose of propaganda is not to objectively study the truth and then take it back to the public with fairness. Propaganda also influences individuals into believing that the actions and ideas they choose are solely on their own volition. It manipulates a person's psychological state of mind. Propaganda also prevents dialogue, and it does not allow discussion and contradiction. Propaganda does not go past a simple dialogue, and it only focuses on masses. Moving a single person with an ideology is hard. With masses, however, it becomes easier. When he is isolated and alone, propagandists fear that they might not handle his resistance. Propaganda is made possible by the use of mass media.

Propaganda and Education

Propaganda differs from education in that while the former tells the public what to think, the latter teaches them how to think. However, since education has been used as a tool to disseminate propaganda, the line between the two has become blurry. A notable difference between the two is that propaganda promotes special interests while education supports general welfare.

Bandwagon Propaganda

This technique tries to persuade the audience to become part of something, like a crowd. It urges people to take action. The desire for human beings to fit in makes them vulnerable to manipulation, and they find themselves becoming a part of the crowd. A famous phrase by propagandists of this type of propaganda is "now trending." This is the language used by advertisers when they want customers for their products.

Card Stacking Propaganda

This technique involves omitting of some parts of the information to fool targets. Companies use this type of manipulation to make their products to look better than they usually are. Some of the companies omit some adverse effects or sides of their products and only talk about the benefits of the products.

Plain Folks Propaganda

This technique involves relating oneself to the audience to gain their approval. Advertisers are using this kind of method to attract more buyers for their products. Propagandists use this technique after the public has become skeptical of the celebrities in the adverts, and are looking for something realistic ("Propaganda and The Seven Techniques", 2019). Politicians alike use this method by relating to the voter. The politician manipulates the people into thinking that they are equal in terms of real life struggles. In the end, he or she earns votes from the "understanding" voters.

Name Calling

In this technique, propagandists use demeaning language to belittle or degrade another person or brand. Often, the opinion of people towards the victim becomes negative. Advertisers will use this language to put their competitors down. Politicians too like to use derogatory phrases towards their competitors or enemies.

Transfer Propaganda

Propagandists project particular qualities of an object, ideology or person to other people or things. Politicians will use the national flag or symbols that are valuable to the nation to influence people into gaining their approval. Eventually, they spread a lot of propaganda to win the people's confidence.

Glittering Generalities Propaganda

Propagandists use this technique to win over the audience. Advertisers will often use positive anecdotes to make their products to look appealing, resulting in many sales. Politicians also use this technique to label themselves positively. This labeling gives them approval from the people. They may also use social media to praise themselves and create a good image from themselves.

Testimonial Propaganda

This technique uses famous people or renowned people to endorse politicians or products. An advertisement of a product by a celebrity or ex-celebrity is likely to get many buyers. This technique builds trust and improves the standards of a brand.

Propaganda and Democracy

There are various roles that propaganda plays in a democracy. Democracy is a form of government where people choose their leaders, and these leaders are held accountable for their actions and policies and conduct in the office. Propaganda manipulates the public into thinking that the ideas that have are theirs. Politicians and governments influence the society in such a way that it demands that which the politician or government want ("Propaganda and The Seven Techniques", 2019). Jacques notes that once democracy becomes the object of propaganda, it also becomes as totalitarian, authoritarian and exclusive as a dictatorship.

References

Introduction to Propaganda. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-WpFzTplp28

Propaganda and the Seven Techniques. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQT_eNip1AY