We like to think of propaganda as something that is firmly entrenched in the past – and it is. But it is also something that continues to the present and will carry on in the future too. Governments will always look for ways to use information to manipulate the population to their ends, whether it is to wage war, get more people working, or make us part with our hard-earned cash.
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The history of propaganda is a little scary. The majority of it is directed at getting people to do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily want to do. Much of the time, politicians use it as a tool to galvanize the public for war. For instance, regular men were subject to a barrage of propaganda during the two world wars of the twentieth century, imploring them to sign up and fight. Women, too, were targeted, as the government saw a role for them in the factories, making bombs, bullets, and aircraft to crush the enemy.
Propaganda is something that we all need to be aware of. We need to understand that while the government is supposed to represent the people, politicians in it have their own ideologies and agendas, just like anyone else. They aren’t just empty vassals carrying out the will of their constituents: they’re often hungry for power and willing to lie if it will enhance their position.
If you want to learn more about what propaganda is and how governments have used it throughout history, check out my book. What’s you’ll learn is both moving and scary.