Library:How Propaganda Works
| How Propaganda Works | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jason Stanley |
| First published | 2015 |
| ISBN | 978-0-691-16442-7 unverified |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Politics & Elections Culture, Religion & Society |
| Tactics | Propaganda Technique |
How Propaganda Works is a 2015 book by Jason Stanley.
Summary
Jason Stanley, a philosopher at Yale University, examines propaganda from the perspective of philosophy of language and political theory.
Propaganda in democracies
Stanley argues that the most dangerous propaganda in democracies uses the language of democratic ideals, such as freedom or fairness, to undermine those very ideals. He calls this "undermining propaganda."
Flawed ideologies
He explains how inequality produces "flawed ideologies," beliefs that make people resistant to evidence, and how propaganda exploits them. Examples include the language of crime and welfare in American politics and the use of seemingly neutral words that carry hidden associations.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
Stanley's analysis helps explain why propaganda in free societies often sounds reasonable, and why careful attention to wording matters.
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