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Goebbels' Principles of Propaganda [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-10  

Leonard Doob, a Yale professor of Psychology, wrote an article summarizing “the principles which appear to underlie the propaganda plan and decisions described” in a manuscript Goebbels “ostensibly dictated” to a secretary.

While Goebbels’ powers of persuasion certainly were effective in their time, it bears asking whether we, as the human race, have learned anything from World War II and the European fascism of the early 20th century. After all, the persuasion game has never stopped. We have the same brains as 100 years ago, biologically. Has the addition of experience changed the effectiveness of any of Goebbel’s propaganda principles? That is what this series will explore.

Another factor is modern communications. The internet is often compared to the printing press in terms of its impact on communications: instant, virtually free global messaging and video. It has changed daily life for most people on Earth. How do Goebbel’s propaganda principles adapt?

We will review each principle on its own and translate its use to a modern media environment, basically asking the question:

Would this shit work today? And would I fall for it?

Let’s draw from current examples online to see if social media and modern reporting complements old ferret face’s principles and how they are being used today.

Goebbel’s Principles of Propaganda

PROPAGANDISTS MUST HAVE ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE CONCERNING EVENTS AND PUBLIC OPINION PROPAGANDA MUST BE PLANNED AND EXECUTED BY ONLY ONE AUTHORITY THE PROPAGANDA CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACTION MUST BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING THAT ACTION PROPAGANDA MUST AFFECT THE ENEMY'S POLICY AND ACTION DECLASSIFIED, OPERATIONAL INFORMATION MUST BE AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT A PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN TO BE PERCEIVED, PROPAGANDA MUST EVOKE THE INTEREST OF AN AUDIENCE AND MUST BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH AN ATTENTION-GETTING COMMUNICATIONS MEDIUM CREDIBILITY ALONE MUST DETERMINE WHETHER PROPAGANDA OUTPUT SHOULD BE TRUE OR FALSE THE PURPOSE, CONTENT, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ENEMY PROPAGANDA; THE STRENGTH AND EFFECTS OF AN EXPOSE; AND THE NATURE OF CURRENT PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGNS DETERMINE WHETHER ENEMY PROPAGANDA SHOULD BE IGNORED OR REFUTED CREDIBILITY, INTELLIGENCE, AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATING DETERMINE WHETHER PROPAGANDA MATERIALS SHOULD BE CENSORED MATERIAL FROM ENEMY PROPAGANDA MAY BE UTILIZED IN OPERATIONS WHEN IT HELPS DIMINISH THAT ENEMY'S PRESTIGE OR LENDS SUPPORT TO THE PROPAGANDIST'S OWN OBJECTIVE BLACK RATHER THAN WHITE PROPAGANDA MUST BE EMPLOYED WHEN THE LATTER IS LESS CREDIBLE OR PRODUCES UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS PROPAGANDA MAY BE FACILITATED BY LEADERS WITH PRESTIGE PROPAGANDA MUST BE CAREFULLY TIMED PROPAGANDA MUST LABEL EVENTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISTINCTIVE PHRASES OR SLOGANS PROPAGANDA TO THE HOME FRONT MUST PREVENT THE RAISING OF FALSE HOPES WHICH CAN BE BLASTED BY FUTURE EVENTS PROPAGANDA TO THE HOME FRONT MUST CREATE AN OPTIMUM ANXIETY LEVEL PROPAGANDA TO THE HOME FRONT MUST DIMINISH THE IMPACT OF FRUSTRATION PROPAGANDA MUST FACILITATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF AGGRESSION BY SPECIFYING THE TARGETS FOR HATRED PROPAGANDA CANNOT IMMEDIATELY AFFECT STRONG COUNTER TENDENCIES; INSTEAD IT MUST OFFER SOME FORM OF ACTION OR DIVERSION, OR BOTH.

I look forward to our discussions.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/10/2210660/-Goebbels-Principles-of-Propaganda?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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