In a new book, Professor Nathan Crick argues that the language of propaganda must be studied – not to fear it, but to know how to use it for the benefit of society.
Propaganda is not just a tool for manipulation – it may actually be an essential civic skill for our contemporary world.
After extensive research into the role of mass persuasion in the age of viral videos, social media campaigns, and cross-border messaging, communications professor Nathan Crick argues that propaganda has become an integral part of everyday life.
In his new book Propaganda: The Basics Prof. Crick suggests viewing propaganda not just as a means of deception, but as a fundamental component of the mass communication system of a technological society.
Redefining the concept of propaganda in the digital age
For many, the term “propaganda” carries negative connotations: xenophobia, coercion, manipulation. But Crick believes the term should be returned to its original meaning – “to spread” – that is, a method of modern mass persuasion.
“We must recognize that in the digital age we all consume, and sometimes produce, propaganda – sometimes unwittingly, but often intentionally and enthusiastically,” he writes. “Many of the messages we choose to consume are in fact propaganda. What makes them propaganda is not necessarily the fact that they are manipulative or false – but that they use persuasive techniques tailored to a wide audience.”
According to him, propaganda cannot be avoided – even those who try to distance themselves from it are in fact subject to its influence. Therefore, he argues, we must stop defining propaganda solely as lies and coercion, and start seeing it as a much more complex phenomenon – one that must be understood, criticized, and even harnessed for good.
Propaganda as a tool for democratic participation
Crick suggests making an understanding of propaganda a basic civic skill. He says citizens can learn to use these techniques ethically to promote positive social change.
"And only when we recognize that propaganda is part of our lives can we begin to criticize manipulation, resist the currents of disinformation, and master the techniques of persuasion ourselves, in order to build a more democratic and fair society," he writes.
The psychology of propaganda
To understand why propaganda is so successful, you need to understand the psychology behind it. Research suggests that propaganda affects us through basic human mechanisms: the need to belong, the desire to succeed, or to feel safe. It offers simple solutions to complex problems – and encourages instinctive responses.
Instead of leading to decisions based on rational thinking (the “central pathway”), propaganda operates through the “peripheral pathway” – similar to a reflex. It triggers unconscious responses through simple but powerful stimuli.
Propaganda uses factors such as:
- Compensatory substitutes: Activation of unfulfilled impulses and desires;
- Groupthink: A sense of increased status through belonging to a group;
- cognitive dissonance: Creating internal tension and providing a quick and easy solution to relieve that tension.
Concrete examples are often used, which evoke strong emotions and create a clear course of action – especially when the audience is tired, distracted, or part of a large crowd.
Modern technology – including data-driven psychological analysis and the ability to instantly distribute via social media – has made propaganda more powerful than ever.
call for action
In an era when solving global crises requires joint action, Crick argues that propaganda cannot be avoided – but we can, and should, learn how it works, how to defend against it, and how to use it to advance worthy goals.
His book Propaganda: The Basics Seeks to provide readers with tools for critical analysis of propaganda messages, identification of persuasion techniques, and conscious use of propaganda for positive social change.
“In a message-dense, cross-border connected digital world, one of the key ways to exert social, political, and economic power is through propaganda,” he writes. “I believe that a democratic society will only benefit from more people, not fewer, mastering the art of persuasion—and being able to influence their world.”
Crick concludes: "The future is not a future without propaganda – but a future in which we all master the techniques of propaganda, so that it no longer has control over us."
He says that propaganda may also be essential in dealing with global challenges such as the climate crisis, which require collective behavioral change. He also warns that the hope that many place in social networks as a tool for promoting social change may be exaggerated – as the algorithms of those systems may actually deepen polarization and cause collective neurosis.
"And yet," he concludes, "if we want to revive democracy, propaganda must be part of the solution – simply because it will always exist. But it must be propaganda that we all share in – as producers and consumers. To be a citizen in a technological age is to take an active part in the propaganda of our time."
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Absolutely not. These channels are embedded with many Bibiists, so the Kaplanists have no ability to tell the truth in the face of Bibi's poison machine that shouts its lies over every screen and then claims deprivation.
In the picture above – herds of chaplains flocking after the propaganda machine – Channels 11, 12, 13
Kaplanism = an autoimmune disease, a combination of rabies with dementia, in which sufferers develop symptoms of bulging eyes, foaming at the mouth, foul odor, blurred senses, repetition of hollow mantras, and low to zero intelligence.