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What is Propaganda?
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Scholars, journalists, and politicians have long argued about how to properly define propaganda
and distinguish it from other forms of mass communication. Propaganda is biased information
designed to shape public opinion and behavior.
The word comes from Latin and originally referred to the biological reproduction of flora and
fauna, that is, to the propagation of plants and animals. It took on new meaning in the 17th
century when the Papacy established a special division within the Catholic Church, the Sacred
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (propaganda fide), to systematically spread
Catholic doctrine throughout the world to win new converts and stem the rising tide of
Protestantism. Propaganda thus came to connote the dissemination of religious ideas in order to
shape the opinions and behavior of mass audiences.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, propaganda took on greater importance in the political realm with
the growth of literacy, liberal demands for freedoms of the press, speech, and assembly, and
representative governments. Politicians and governments of all types recognized the importance
of winning over and molding public opinion through propaganda and other methods of mass
persuasion. Instead of relying purely upon censorship as a tool of social control, regimes now
created or subsidized newspapers and other organs to disseminate official "news." The
"marketplace of ideas" and the court of public opinion became venues for competing social,
political, and religious movements.
World War I, however, witnessed the public discovery of propaganda as a powerful weapon for
shaping public opinion and behavior. All the major belligerent governments (Great Britain,
France, Russia, Italy, the United States, Germany, and Austria-Hungary) employed writers,
artists, and filmmakers to craft political messages aimed at mobilizing their populations for war, at
weakening the enemy’s morale and will to fight, and at winning over audiences in neutral
countries. British, American, and French publicists created potent images of the Germans as
barbaric, brutal "Huns" who sought world domination and the destruction of western civilization.
This portrayal reinforced reports of German atrocities, some real, others exaggerated or
fabricated, which aimed to convince their populations of the righteousness of their cause and the
need to continue the war until the enemy was defeated.
After World War I, propaganda became a subject of considerable debate and study throughout
the western world, but particularly in the United States and Germany. The term came to be
perceived in a negative light and identified in many circles with lies, manipulation, and falsehood.
Some American opinion leaders feared that unregulated propaganda would destroy the
foundations of democracy by creating a nation of obedient slaves marching in lockstep to the
government’s orders. Others believed that the democratic marketplace of ideas would counter
any potential threats from propaganda. Still others believed that propaganda, when employed for
the public good, could create a more educated, healthier, and progressive citizenry.
In Germany, like the United States, propaganda became the subject of serious discussion and
intellectual study. It was commonly held that Germany had lost World War I, not on the
battlefield, but because Allied propaganda had sapped the fighting spirit of German troops and
weakened morale at home by encouraging demands for peace. In contrast, Imperial Germany’s
propaganda efforts were widely criticized for failing to explain why the nation needed to continue
to wage war and painted non-threatening images of the enemy. Some politicians and scholars of
propaganda urged Germans to learn from the victors. Among these was Adolf Hitler, a former
German soldier and leader of an obscure right-wing extremist party in Bavaria. "Propaganda," he
wrote five years after the war, "is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert."
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Nazi propagandists drew upon the successful techniques and strategies used by the Allies,
Socialists, Communists, and Italian Fascists to advance their political campaigns, win public
support, and to wage war. Once in power, the Nazis eliminated the "marketplace of ideas"
through terror and media manipulation and mobilized propaganda as a weapon to unite the
German people around a "leader" and to facilitate aggression, mass murder, and genocide.
Since World War II, technologies and strategies for disseminating propaganda have changed
greatly. Television and the Internet have increased the speed and spread of information globally.
Websites and other online media now reach hundreds of millions of people throughout the world
and have become major propaganda vehicles for private and governmental organizations. In the
face of such a media barrage, consumers now, perhaps more than ever, must carefully and
critically evaluate information in order to become better informed citizens.
How Does Propaganda Work?
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Modern propaganda draws upon techniques and strategies used in advertising, public relations,
communications, and mass psychology. It simplifies complicated issues or ideology for popular
consumption, is always biased, and is geared to achieving a particular end. Propaganda
generally employs symbols, whether in written, musical, or visual forms, and plays upon and
channels complex human emotions towards a desired goal. It is often employed by governmental
and private organizations to promote their causes and institutions and denigrate their opponents.
Propaganda functions as just one weapon in the arsenal of mass persuasion.
In contrast to the ideal of an educator, who aims to foster independent judgment and thinking, the
practitioner of propaganda does not aim to encourage deliberation by presenting a variety of
viewpoints and leaving it up to the audience to determine which perspective is correct. The
propagandist transmits only information geared to strengthen his or her case, and consciously
omits detrimental information.
Not all propaganda is bad. Propaganda is used to shape opinion and behavior. Public health
campaigns, for example, can utilize propaganda. Elections, even in democratic states, often
display elements of propaganda, as candidates and political parties vie for office. The real
danger of propaganda lies when competing voices are silenced –and unchecked, propaganda
can have negative consequences.
Is Propaganda Effective?
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Propaganda, of course, is not always successful. Its effectiveness depends upon a variety of
factors, including the receptivity of an audience to the message and a favorable social context.
Propaganda alone, regardless of the skills of its users, cannot win wars or transform thinking
human beings into mindless automatons. Regardless of the power of their messages, for
instance, the Nazis could not turn back the tide of Allied victory after the middle of 1943. Nazi
propaganda delayed defeat but it could not bring Germany victory.
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Propaganda is characterized by these traits — it simplifies complex issues, is biased, geared to
achieving a particular end, plays on emotions, and defines a cause. It can be true, partially true,
or blatantly false. The strategies employed by Nazi propagandists were drawn from a broader
history of public information campaigns employed in the service of a variety of causes, in
peacetime and wartime.
Where's the line between news and propaganda? Propagandists intentionally spread biased information
designed to sway public opinion. In Nazi Germany, the press served as transmitter for government
propaganda by disseminating only state-approved news. This example illustrates the danger to a society
when propaganda is unchecked and competing messages are silenced. An educated and engaged
citizenry is the best defense against propaganda.
http://www.ushmm.org/propaganda/resources/
Propaganda
Words are weapons in warfare. Words affect how people think about themselves and about others. War
is probably the time of the greatest language manipulation, when people are most likely to deceive
others, least able to negotiate, and are under the most intense emotional stress.
Propaganda is often used as a general attack word to label any claims or charges from opponents, rivals,
or critics.
War propaganda refers to persuasion targeted at an internal audience:
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To bond one's own group
To build morale (a belief in "being right" and in "being able")
To get people to get involved
To silence internal opposition
To incite to action
War propaganda can often be deliberately manipulated by professional persuaders (a "thermostat effect"
calculated to heat up or cool a crisis). However, once started, sometimes war propaganda can get totally
out of control (a "wildfire effect") with unpredictable, long-term effects. Years after a crisis, individual
zealots may still base their hatred of others on "outdated" ideas from earlier propaganda.
Basic premise of War propaganda
People intensify their own "good" and downplay their own "bad" and, intensify others' 'bad" and downplay
others' "good.'
 Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation aimed at serving an agenda.
 Even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a
complete and balanced picture.
 The primary use of the term is in political contexts, and generally refers to efforts
sponsored by governments and political parties.
Common Techniques
False connections:
 Transfer – uses the authority of something we respect (church, nation) to lead people to accept
something else (symbols like the cross)
 Testimonial - famous people endorsing products (Lebron James’ sneakers)
Special appeals:
 Plain folks – convince audience that they are similar (politician creates an image of being a
regular person)
 Bandwagon - everyone else is doing it (join the war effort)
 Fear – follow our lead or you will be in trouble (war on terror)
Logical fallacies:
 Errors in reasoning – make predictions about the future based on a few small facts (if we don’t
pass gun laws, there will be an increase in murders)
Name Calling:
 Links a person or group to an idea or a negative symbol. (example: Fascist)
 Another forms of name calling use more subtle phrases to slander.( example: radical or coward)
 The intent is to make you reject or question something without any critical analysis.
Glittering Generalities:
 Words or phrases that inspire. (Some examples: nationalism, god, patriotism, love, right or
democracy)
 They can mean different things to different people and can be used to say different things.
 They generally are used to inspire and cause support for an idea of cause without any criticism.
Euphemisms:
 This is when a word or phrase is used which makes something sound more pleasing. (example:
we no longer use the term ‘shell shock’ but ‘post traumatic stress disorder’ or ‘civilian casualties
is called ‘collateral damage’)
“Plain Folks”
 This is a tactic which identifies the average individual with the message. (example: Hitler as the
father)
“Bandwagon”
 This tactic suggests that ‘everyone is doing it’ as a way to entice others.
Fear
 This is a way to scare people in to agree with or convinced by what is being propagated.
Testimonials:
 If one believes the information being propagated is coming from a reliable source they are more
willing to agree. (Example: any commercial where the person speaking it wearing a lab coat
makes you think they are a doctor and are more trustworthy.)
Symbols/Transfer:
 This is when an image is used to illustrate all the bias’ and stereotypes associated with it.
(Example: a heart represents love and joy is associated with the symbol)
Why Was It Used?
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Justify involvement
Recruit men
Funding (ex. Victory bonds)
Propaganda Assignment:
PART A: Answer in full sentences, using your own words.
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What are the origins of propaganda?
When and why has propaganda been used in the past? (Before World War I)
How was propaganda used during World War I?
How has propaganda changed since World War II?
Is propaganda always effective? Explain.
From the propaganda posters circulating around the class, choose two and describe them with
enough detail that I know which posters you are talking about. Next, for each of the two posters,
explain and justify which techniques were being used in these examples (Common techniques
are explained on the back of the propaganda handout given to you). Please be specific. Often
posters would use several different techniques. Explain all of them and how they are used.
PART B: Poster
Individually or in groups of 2, create a WWII propaganda poster (on 8 ½ x 14 paper) for the Canadian
people. Draw on the examples shown (and circulating in the classroom) for inspiration and refer to your
notes for specific ideas.
Posters should be created by hand, not on a computer or using computer images.
Posters will be marked out of 10 and evaluated for:
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Having an original idea (2pts)
Clarity, quality and effectiveness of the poster/message (5pts)
Demonstration of time and care put into creating an effective poster (3pts)