"Propaganda, by whatever name we may call it, has become a very general phenomenon in the modern world. Differences in political regimes matter little; differences in social levels are more important; and most important is national self-awareness."(1) Actually, propaganda is a large scale phenomenon, predominant in every society and hard to define. To Jowett an O'Donnell, "Propaganda is a form of communication that attempts to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." In the same way, De Vito, in 1986, identifies it as "organised persuasion" and Sproule, in 1994, defines it as "the work of large organisations or groups to win over the public for special interests through a massive orchestration of attractive conclusions packaged to conceal both their persuasive purpose and lack of supporting reasons." (2)Consequently, we can say that propaganda constitutes a specific class of mass communication which aim is to affect public opinion and behavioural change, to send out an ideology to an audience with a related objective. In its broad sense, it includes psychological action and warfare, re-education and brain-washing, public and human relations considered as a way to "adapt the individual to a society, to a living standard, to an activity"(3)
[...] Actually, a nation can only survive if its values are secured, its citizens loyal and unanimous and if they practice the civic virtues which is obtained through white propaganda campaigns promoting the nation, the common history and will of the people. It is a way to build and reinforce nations psychologically and ideologically, a sort of national education. The examples of the French and American revolutions are here relevant. Actually, not only to make the people resist the king and British authoritarianism , but also to instil deeply in themselves the national feeling, the leaders of the revolutionary movements used big propaganda campaign, through pamphlets, posters And the provisional proclamation on psychological action of 1957 confirms this statement: “Neutralism on the part of a government invites subversion and places it in a perilous position. [...]
[...] The question is here to know whether propaganda is “necessary for the functioning and survival of human society” or not. To answer it, we will focus on white propaganda, considered as a way to human societies by many thinkers; “Propaganda is a technique of social pressure which tends to create psychological or social groups with a unified structure across the homogeneity of the affective and mental states of individuals under considerations”(6); and analyse its function on the sociological, psychological and political point of views. [...]
[...] Bernays, in Propaganda, explains that manipulating the masses is necessary in society, because of their irrational and dangerous character. In the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science he adds that "the very essence of the democratic process" is "the freedom to persuade and suggest.” leader frequently cannot wait for the people to arrive at even general understanding . Democratic leaders must play their part in . engineering . consent to socially constructive goals and values," applying "scientific principles and tried practices to the task of getting people to support ideas and programs". [...]
[...] Antonio Miotto in Jacques Ellul, Propaganda, the formation of Men's attitude, vintage books, New York (first edition, france, 1965), preface. G.S. Jowett and V. O'Donnell, Propaganda and persuasion, Sage publications, London p.1-4. Ibid p.23 J.B. Whitton and A. Larson, Propaganda, Towards disarmament in the war of words, oceana, New York p13 10) Ibid 11) Jacques Ellul, Propaganda, the formation of Men's attitude, vintage books, New York (first edition, france, 1965), p119. 12) Ibid, p.138. 13) Ibid, p.121. 14) Ibid, p.122 15) Napoleon's quotation 16) Jacques Ellul, Propaganda, the formation of Men's attitude, vintage books, New York (first edition, france, 1965), p124. [...]
[...] think propaganda fills a need for modern man, a need that creates in him an unconscious desire for propaganda.”(23) It exists in all societies and accompanies “progress towards civilisation”, it is the “intrinsic part of the setting in which man finds himself in the technological society”. Actually, man is not automatically adjusted to the living conditions imposed on him by modern societies. Adjustment to a technological world that is to say to increase pace, working hours, noise, crowded cities can be a traumatic experience. [...]
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