Why does propoganda work?

It seems to work for a number of reasons including

People wish to believe the best about themselves and their country
Fear - mongering, especially about the threat to cherished values such as freedom and justice.
Presenting fears and claims that appear logical and factual.
Media management and public relations is very professional.
Managing thoughts by narrowing ranges of debate, thus minimizing widely discussed thoughts that deviate from the main agenda.


I came across this very interesting video on ' How to brainwash a nation?'

Common Propoganda Tactics : Useful in all wars

The first casualty when war comes is Truth

— U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson, 1917

Common tactics in propaganda often used by either side include:

• Using selective stories that come over as wide-covering and objective.
• Partial facts, or historical context
• Reinforcing reasons and motivations to act due to threats on the security of the individual.
• Narrow sources of “experts” to provide insights in to the situation. (For example, the mainstream media typically interview retired military personnel for many conflict-related issues, or treat official government sources as fact, rather than just one perspective that needs to be verified and researched).
• Demonizing the “enemy” who does not fit the picture of what is “right”.
• Using a narrow range of discourse, whereby judgments are often made while the boundary of discourse itself, or the framework within which the opinions are formed, are often not discussed. The narrow focus then helps to serve the interests of the propagandists.

Build up of Iraq War - A propoganda caught red handed

The propaganda by Bush worked like charm on the people of America. The time was post 9/11 and America was vulnerable after the fall of the twin towers. They wanted the villain and Bush named him as Saddam Hussain the president of Iraq.

The reasons given were that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction and might help Al- Qadea and therefore pose a threat to the American people and the world.

The strategies and tactics used by the Bush administration were what PR people are generally accused of in political scenario -- spin and manipulation.

The three weeks of Iraq war will go down in history where the entire world was taken for a ride by USA and its greatest ally UK .

Just a few examples of manipulation and spin used during the Iraq war...

1. The Bush administration bought the scientists who said the Saddam will use chemicals to contaminate and bring mass destruction. Of course they were not speaking the truth.

2. Embedded journalists who gave a sanitized picture of Iraq war.

3. Maximum imagery was shown with minimum insight

4. Setbacks and atrocities of the coalition army were glossed over.

5. Only military coverage of Jessica Lynch was shot and edited version handed over to the media.

6. Towns which were not won over were falsely reported as seized.

we Weapons of mass destruction !!!!!!!! Have they been found as yet?????

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02E7DC1738F937A35757C0A9659C8B63http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/03/18_iraqmedia.shtml

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/nov/06/broadcasting.Iraqandthemedia

I came across this very interesting site on Nazi Propaganda.

http://www.historians.org/Projects/GIroundtable/Propaganda/Propaganda1.htm