There have always been propagandists, some extremely skilled, but the continuing, institutionalized, large-scale attempt at mass political persuasion is a modern phenomenon, not fully developed before the First World War. The study of propaganda is even more recent for, apart from a few pioneering works at the turn of the present century, very little was written before 1930. Professor Qualter discusses the historical development and use, up to and including the Cold War era, of the deliberate attempts by political groups to use propaganda to “form, control, or alter the attitudes of other groups.”
The Psychological War for Vietnam, 1960–1968, for the first time fully explores the most sustained, intensive use of psychological operations (PSYOP) in American history. In PSYOP, US military personnel use a variety of tactics—mostly audio and visual messages—to influence individuals and groups to behave in ways that favor US objectives. Informed by the author’s firsthand experience of such operations elsewhere, this account of the battle for “hearts and minds” in Vietnam offers rare insight into the art and science of propaganda as a military tool in the twentieth century. The Psychological War for Vietnam, 1960–1968, focuses on the creation, capabilities, and performance of the forces that conducted PSYOP in Vietnam, including the Joint US Public Affairs Office and the 4th PSYOP Group. In his comprehensive account, Mervyn Edwin Roberts III covers psychological operations across the entire theater, by all involved US agencies. His book reveals the complex interplay of these activities within the wider context of Vietnam and the Cold War propaganda battle being fought by the United States at the same time. Because PSYOP never occurs in a vacuum, Roberts considers the shifting influence of alternative sources of information—especially from the governments of North and South Vietnam, but also from Australia, Korea, and the Philippines. The Psychological War for Vietnam, 1960–1968, also addresses the development of PSYOP doctrine and training in the period prior to the introduction of ground combat forces in 1965 and, finally, shows how the course of the war itself forced changes to this doctrine. The scope of the book allows for a unique measurement of the effectiveness of psychological operations over time.
Formed in 1937 in the wake ot the Arab revolt, the Irgun Zvai Leumi continued to struggle for the existence of an independent Jewish nation in Palestine until the ceration of the state of Israel in May of 1948. In the face of British opposition and Arab hotility, the Irgun carried on its fight by means of both violence and psychological warfar. In this, it was typical of those underground groups that seek to bring about political change outside constitutional channels by combining the propaganda of the word with the propaganda of the deed. Concentrating on the period 1942-48, the editors demonstrate the methods used by the Irgun to undermine British morale and to qustion the continued legitimacy of the British mandate in Palestine. They also illustrated the tensions among, and the conflicting policies of, the major Jewish underground groups. In so doing, they provide a case study of the methods of political communication by wich a nonstate group can achieve its goals, even whwn opposed by an established government. These documents also will provide insight into the current problems in the Middle East. The perceptions and actions of the Jewish resistance movement, particulrly the Irgun ander the leadership of Menachm Bgin, continue influence the attitudes and policies of Israelis and Arabs alike.
A provocative and eye-opening study of the essential role the US military and the Central Intelligence Agency played in the advancement of communication studies during the Cold War era, now with a new introduction by Robert W. McChesney and a new preface by the author Since the mid-twentieth century, the great advances in our knowledge about the most effective methods of mass communication and persuasion have been visible in a wide range of professional fields, including journalism, marketing, public relations, interrogation, and public opinion studies. However, the birth of the modern science of mass communication had surprising and somewhat troubling midwives: the military and covert intelligence arms of the US government. In this fascinating study, author Christopher Simpson uses long-classified documents from the Pentagon, the CIA, and other national security agencies to demonstrate how this seemingly benign social science grew directly out of secret government-funded research into psychological warfare. It reveals that many of the most respected pioneers in the field of communication science were knowingly complicit in America’s Cold War efforts, regardless of their personal politics or individual moralities, and that their findings on mass communication were eventually employed for the purposes of propaganda, subversion, intimidation, and counterinsurgency. An important, thought-provoking work, Science of Coercion shines a blazing light into a hitherto remote and shadowy corner of Cold War history.
Do not read this book unless you are ready to see the world differently... Psychological Warfare: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Human Behavior, Brainwashing, Propaganda, Deception, Negotiation, Dark Psychology, and Manipulation is a must-have book for everyone who recognizes the dangers we face daily in modern society. Are you subject to workplace manipulation? Is your romantic relationship balanced and fair, or does one partner hold all the power? This book helps you to understand what is meant by "psychological warfare" and how it affects you and the people you love. Find out: What are cults? Have they any place in modern culture, or are they a thing of the past? Discover 5 common misconceptions that people have about cults. What influence does the media have on your everyday life? What are the more trustworthy sources of news? Is "false news" a real thing, or just a byword used by people to dismiss legitimate stories? Discover the biggest mistakes people make when absorbing news and facts from popular sources. Are you always on the wrong end of a deal? Are you sick of paying more for goods or services while your friends boast about great deals? Discover the art of negotiation and how to gain the upper hand when thrashing out a deal. You don't need to use underhand tactics to succeed, but you do need to be aware of them. See examples of propaganda from history and how the concept is used today. Do political parties always play fair when they are canvassing for your vote, or are you being hoodwinked? Uncover some classic propaganda techniques that have been used for generations and learn how to form your own opinions. Are you aware of neuro-linguistic programming or NLP? This theory has been developed to promote self-esteem, but some people use the methods to manipulate others; they are adept at emotional blackmail and can twist people around their fingers. Avoid this happening to you by recognizing when someone is messing with your head. Are you aware of MK Ultra? This highly illegal and controversial operation was deployed by the CIA from the 1950s for over twenty years and involved the drugging and brainwashing of ordinary American citizens. The tactics used by the organization will shock you. The details may sound like the plot for a Hollywood blockbuster film but are actually straight from the history books. When you hear the term "gaslighter", do you imagine a wartime method of lighting streetlamps? The term is used to describe an insidious form of bullying. Learn how these types of manipulators operate in the workplace and how to deal with them. Can you spot a liar? You may think your BS detector is finely tuned, but are you willing to take a test? Try the fun test in chapter three to discover how adept you are at spotting a liar. Is your lie-Q high or low? Do you need handy tips to be more aware of deception? What is the "Dark Triad", and how does it affect you? This book helps you understand the three dark personality traits and how they manifest. Is your boss a narcissist? Is your partner Machiavellian? Do you know a real-life psychopath? You will be surprised and appalled at the number of people you know who display at least some of the traits associated with the Dark Triad. Maybe you will recognize them in yourself. Don't worry, the most successful leaders in history have had a few dark personality traits. The trick is in knowing how to manage them. This handy book will change your life. You will have the power to be stronger and resist bullying. Improve your strength of mind with some simple exercises and present the "new you" to the world. Get this book and never be taken advantage of again!
This anthology serves as a fundamental guide to PSYOP philosophy, concepts, principles, issues, and thought for both those new to, and those experienced in, the PSYOP field and PSYOP applications. It clarifies the value of PSYOP as a cost-effective weapon and incorporates it as a psychological instrument of U.S. military and political power, especially given our present budgetary constraints. Presents diverse articles that portray the value of the planned use of human actions to influence perceptions, public opinion, attitudes, and behaviors so that PSYOP victories can be achieved in war and in peace.
Reflecting the remarkable changes in the world of propaganda due to the increasing use of social media, this updated Seventh Edition provides a systematic introduction to the increasingly complex world of propaganda. Viewing propaganda as a form of communication, the authors help you understand information and persuasion so you can understand the characteristics of propaganda and how it works as a communication process. Providing provocative case studies and fascinating examples of the use of propaganda from ancient times up through the present day, Propaganda and Persuasion provides an original model that helps you analyze the instances of propaganda and persuasion you encounter in everyday life. New to the Seventh Edition: New coverage of social media as a disseminator of propaganda offers you an up-to-date perspective. The book’s four case studies have been updated and strengthened to demonstrate their relevance not only to past and contemporary culture, but also to the study of propaganda campaigns. New coverage of how a propaganda case study can be structured to reveal the components of a campaign allows you to compare strengths and weaknesses across different types of campaigns and evaluate the relative success of various propaganda strategies. Updated research on persuasion and expanded coverage of collective memory as it appears in new memorials and monuments enhances the presentation. Current examples of propaganda, especially the ways it is disseminated via the Internet, deepen your understanding. New illustrations and photos add a unique visual dimension that helps you conceptualize methods of persuasion and propaganda.
This book is the product of experience rather than research, of consultation rather than reading. It is based on my five years of work, both as civilian expert and as Army officer, in American psychological warfare facilities—at every level from the Joint and Combined Chiefs of Staff planning phase down to the preparing of spot leaflets for the American forces in China. (Paul M. A. Linebarger, Psychological Warfare) Contents: DEFINITION AND HISTORY: Historic Examples of Psychological Warfare The Function of Psychological Warfare Definition of Psychological Warfare The Limitations of Psychological Warfare Psychological Warfare In World War I Psychological Warfare In World War II ANALYSIS, INTELLIGENCE, AND ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: Propaganda Analysis Propaganda Intelligence Estimate of the Situation PLANNING AND OPERATIONS: Organization for Psychological Warfare Plans and Planning Operations for Civilians Operations Against Troops PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AFTER WORLD WAR II The "Cold War" and Seven Small Wars Strategic International Information Operations Research, Development and the Future Military PsyWar Operations, 1950-53
A classic book on propaganda technique proposes a general theory of the strategy and tactics of propaganda. This classic book on propaganda technique focuses on American, British, French, and German experience in World War I. The book sets forth a simple classification of various psychological materials used to produce certain specific results and proposes a general theory of strategy and tactics for the manipulation of these materials. In an introduction (coauthored by Jackson A. Giddens) written for this edition, Harold Lasswell notes that this study was partially an exercise in the discovery of appropriate theory. It raised the crucial questions of how to classify the content of propaganda—for instance, a distinction is made between "value demands" (war aims, war guilt, and casting the enemy as evil personified) and "expectations" (the illusion of victory)—and how to summarize the procedures employed in organizing and carrying out propaganda operations. Propaganda Technique in World War I deals primarily with problems of internal administration and lateral coordination rather than with the relationship between policymakers and propagandists. However, Jackson Giddens enumerates procedures in the book that illustrate an underlying assumption that decision makers were deeply involved in propaganda and influenced by considerations of public opinion. He takes the study of propaganda further by elaborating on the nature and meaning of the category of "war aims" and its relation to the propagandist, for this, more than any other category of content, "is the catalyst of transnational political action." Giddens's exploration of the development of a comprehensive theory of propaganda adds another dimension to Lasswell's study while confirming its value as outstanding groundwork for continuing research.
