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.”
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
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.
This is the first book to analyze how the technology to alter images and rapidly distribute them can be used for propaganda and to support deception operations. In the past, propagandists and those seeking to conduct deception operations used crude methods to alter images of real people, events and objects, which could usually be detected relatively easily. Today, however, computers allow propagandists to create any imaginable image, still or moving, with appropriate accompanying audio. Furthermore, it is becoming extremely difficult to detect that an image has been manipulated, and the Internet, television and global media make it possible to disseminate altered images around the world almost instantaneously. Given that the United States is the sole superpower, few, if any, adversaries will attempt to fight the US military conventionally on the battlefield. Therefore, adversaries will use propaganda and deception, especially altered images, in an attempt to level the battlefield or to win a war against the United States without even having to fight militarily. Propaganda and Information Warfare in the 21st Century will be of great interest to students of information war, propaganda, public diplomacy and security studies in general.
What is Psychological Warfare Psychological warfare (PSYWAR), or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations (PsyOp), has been known by many other names or terms, including Military Information Support Operations (MISO), Psy Ops, political warfare, "Hearts and Minds", and propaganda. The term is used "to denote any action which is practiced mainly by psychological methods with the aim of evoking a planned psychological reaction in other people". How you will benefit (I) Insights, and validations about the following topics: Chapter 1: Psychological Warfare Chapter 2: Propaganda Chapter 3: Office of Strategic Influence Chapter 4: Black propaganda Chapter 5: Political Warfare Executive Chapter 6: United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command Chapter 7: 15 Psychological Operations Group Chapter 8: Airborne leaflet propaganda Chapter 9: Psychological Warfare Division Chapter 10: Information Operations Roadmap (II) Answering the public top questions about psychological warfare. Who this book is for Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Psychological Warfare.
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.
