Political Propaganda

Catalog description

Political Propaganda examines the role and impact of propaganda in shaping political opinions, narratives, and policies. Through historical and contemporary case studies, students will explore the strategies, techniques, and mediums used in the creation and dissemination of propaganda across different political systems and eras. The course covers the psychological principles underlying propaganda, its ethical dimensions, and its influence on public opinion, elections, and policy-making. Students will critically analyze various forms of propaganda, including state-sponsored, media-driven, and grassroots campaigns, with a focus on their implications for democracy and global politics. This course focuses on the development, principles, techniques, and results of mass persuasion from its beginnings in ancient civilizations to its transformation in the modern technological society. Students study mass persuasion and political propaganda during war and peace, with emphasis on its impact on current-day political affairs through readings, viewing of films, and emphasis on its impact on current-day political affairs, viewing of films and video, examination of graphic and print materials and class discussions. The objective is to hone critical reasoning to identify semantic and perceptual techniques used for mass persuasion.