6 ms·
There's a pretty clear definition: "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or poin
by jaggederest 8y ago
There's a pretty clear definition:
"information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view."
Leaving aside the issue of bias, I think we can agree that if a particular piece of information, designed to mislead the public, is widely disseminated, that is propaganda. Widely disseminating facts, or privately disseminating misleading information is not propaganda.
- randcraw 8y agoIf I may pick a nit... Propaganda is intended to change a belief or a course of action through a substantial amount of disinformation, i.e. lying repeatedly or omitting many facts. Thus the intended audience doesn't have to be big (no wide dissemination) as long as the lies / omissions are numerous and show deliberate intent to deceive. For example, a man can conduct a propaganda campaign lasting years and make many misleading statements toward only his wife. However, it'd be a stretch to refer to a single isolated lie as propaganda, even if it were intended for an audience of millions. I suggest the dividing line between persuasion and manipulation to be akin to 'assent' vs 'consent'. Persuasion requires agreement, the informed, equal, and voluntary meeting of two minds, not a un/mis-informed compliance or subservience of one mind toward another. The latter could never be called persuasion.
- xupybd 8y agoDoes the definition of Propaganda require that the information is disinformation? For example I consider the anti smoking packaging required in New Zealand propaganda. It’s all true but seeing a smokers lungs dissected on a packet of cigarettes to me seems like propaganda.