To What Extent Can Propaganda Be Successful In The 21st Century - Literature review Example

To What Extent Can Propaganda Be Successful In The 21st Century? Give A Critical Account Of The Influence Of Changing Technologies On The Limits Of State Control, With Reference To Examples. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 4 Conclusion 7 References 9 Introduction The word ‘propaganda’ has been closely related to political communication. Digital technology is an important aspect of communication. In the 21st century, communication has performed as a strong and effective medium to influence audience attitude towards some cause. Thus, propaganda is a form of communication, which is based on information and is often asserted as bias or misleading in nature. It is primarily owing to its extensive use in promoting political causes or point of views among audiences. Propaganda based information are today witnessed to convey only one-sided messages, emphasising either the positives or the negatives of one position that in turn generates negative perceptions for the opposing position(s) amid the audiences (Gitlin, 2003). At the time of war, or some other critical situations, politicians strategically used propaganda information, to instigate a positive approach among the audiences’ minds. For instance, during the time of Iraq War and 9/11, to generate a positive image for the US government, electronic media of the US paid due stress on reporting propaganda information to establish a strong support for their nations. Propaganda information has created a strong support, which further encouraged public to report crime taking additional social responsibilities (Taylor, 1999). Notably, most of the countries have been under the threat of terrorism. To make those countries free from such social threats, the help of print and electronic media shall be inevitable to encourage correct representation of information through propagandas, about terror or war among public. In this regard, propaganda can be successful if it provides optimistic approach among humanity (Rutherford, 2004). Discussion Many times in the recent decades, the modern civilization has witnessed destructive terrorist attacks, wars, civil strife. With the help of journalists from varied nations, people have been informed about these situations, which certainly illustrate the quality significance of propagandas in the 21st century. In this regards, globalization, people from different regions had to remain dependent on updated on the propagandas published through print media journalism. In the previous era, electronic journalism was not as strong as it is in the present scenario. For instance, during World War II, newspapers and journals were the only mediums through which, people of war-affected areas could obtain information about the situation. Globalization has certainly changed the scenario of journalism. It is in this context that the on-rush of digital communication (Rutherford, 2004), such as internet, mobile phone, and social media has developed a new path for propagandists of varied nations in the 21st century. Again, taking the example of the terrorist attack in 9/11, the US nation’s propagandists had fruitfully used media to claim that this mass destruction is an act of terrorism. The leading newspapers of the US also emphasized that act of terrorism, was conducted with such intensity that the entire Muslim community was argued to have become the victim of social depression and isolation being wrongfully considered as the motivator of such crimes (Miller, 2003). Similar illustrations, where the faults or offences of one group or individual is portrayed as the offence and guilt of the entire community reveal that the biased nature of propaganda information can also infuse inequality within the society. The powerful impact of journalism has generated both positive as well as negative affects among the public. Terrorism and war-affected areas are considered as the most important areas for propagandists where they can express views about rival parties that in turn provoke certain sections of the community dividing them into groups favouring, opposing or offering neutral view to the events (Rutherford, 2004). The positive impact of journalism on the war-affected areas has generated a light of new hope among humanity. On the other side, negative impact has also created a brutal affect among humanity (Snow, 2003). To be illustrated, in the book titled “Banal Nationalism”, Snow (2003) discussed about identity formation and geopolitics around the US. Snow (2003) has given multiple examples to present the roles of media in the society. The entire book is based on nationalism and hidden powerful ideologies, which makes the society and the political system easier than the present situation of global politics (Snow, 2003). Hence, it can be asserted that in the 21st century, the media is more focused on propagandist statement, wherein with the help of social networking sites, new generation can instantly give their comments on global politics. In the similar context, “The World News Prism” has described different situations of global terrorism and other natural disasters, wherein the entire book was based on 21st century journalism style and its impact among society (Taylor, 1999). “The World News Prism” has very significantly justified different modes of terrorism attack and other economic upheavals. In this book, Jackall (1994) also featured 2011 international unexpected political revolutions. Jackall (1994) has also highlighted the protests of Arab countries for its various demands, such as democracy, human rights and job. The view presented in the book further indicates that with the help of new age media people can aware of different propaganda statement. In the 21st century new movement on propaganda statements can be create positive effects among society (Jackall, 1994). From a similar perspective, Snow (2003) also argued that global politics and its issues all are covered by modern communication and its various gadgets, such as mobile phones, tabs it increased an socialized platform among society. Nowadays, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter has been creating vast dimensions for propagandists to express views about various matters in an open platform (Snow, 2003). New age media and its huge dimension have strengthened the path for global politics. Certainly, the role of propaganda has been unignorable. It is in this context that the increased significance of propaganda has given greater opportunity to media audiences in the form of an open platform of social media has also given freedom of speech to demand its rights. Similarly, it can be argued that in the 21st century, the new age media has created an open path for propaganda, where information fully conveys the actual meaning (Gitlin, 2003). Elaborating on this particular fact, O’Shaughnessy (2004), in the book titled “Journalists at War: Dynamics of News Reporting during The Falklands Conflict” has presented another side of media representation giving a new perspective to the importance of propaganda in the 21st century context. As O’Shaughnessy (2004) argued, propaganda is an important facet of journalism, which has rather helped in the overall development of media, eradicating its limitation of being a one-way communication channel. Today, with the help of the concept of propagandas, media has helped audiences to express their views within the society (Jackall, 1994). Such an opportunity has been correspondingly utilised to increase pressure on policy makers and authoritative bodies to maintain transparency as well as work towards the benefit of the entire society. In the 21st century, propaganda has been quite successful with the help of journalism. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook has given a wider platform to journalists where propagandists have generated positive results for the people of different nations in many cases. For instance, during the Iraq war, American President took media as a weapon to connect with its country members and abolish Suddam Hussein from Iraq. To gain more readerships in the mentioned period, most of the newspapers presented President’s Speech in such a manner that created a negative impact among readers. To handle the situation and create a positive environment within the US, newspaper association again presented the report with a correct justification, following the opposing and criticising comments from the propagandists (Snow, 2003). This apparently justifies the fact presented above that propaganda has been successful in the 21st century context to assure transparency in policy directions to maintain public health. It is commendable in this regard that the 21st century modern journalism has the opportunity to create a positive path for propagandists to frame a friendly appearance among society. However, the impacts of propagandists are also not without its darkest effects in the modern phenomenon. New age journalism always wishes to have a positive impact within people of different society, which is although quite challenging, given the widely varying perceptions amid individuals in the current era. As Rampton and Stauber (2003) argued, illustrating a negative picture of media role and thereby indicating the failure of propaganda in the 21st century, taking the advantages of dual perspectives, media can also create false representation of information without taking exact view of people into context. In order to justify this particular notion, Rampton and Stauber (2003) emphasised the example of miscommunication that took place during the anti-war movement in Iraq, striking immense controversies within the global paradigm. Conclusion From a general point of view, it can be argued that propagandas have both positive as well as negative effects on the society today, as observed throughout the study. However, as compared to the previous era, propagandas are today more effective in influencing societal stability and balance owing to its open nature of allowing dual responses from the either sides. Technology innovation has been a major contributor to the rising significance of propaganda. Nevertheless, when concentrating on the success factors of the same, a two-dimensional view becomes apparent. While on one hand, propaganda has been successful in increasing pressure on authoritative bodies to maintain transparency and legitimacy in policy directions, it has also fuelled the risk of social imbalances and instability, wherein the information generated brae a high degree risk to be misinterpreted. References Gitlin, T., 2003. The Whole World Is Watching: Mass Media In The Making And Unmaking Of The New Left, With A New Preface. United States of America. Jackall, R., 1994. Propaganda. Palgrave Macmillan. McChesney, R., 2002. ‘September 11 and the Structural Limitations of US Journalism’ in Zelizer and Allan (eds.) Journalism after September 11. Routledge. Miller, D. 2003. Tell Me Lies: Propaganda And Media Distortion In The Attack On Iraq. England. O’Shaughnessy, N. J., 2004. Politics and Propaganda Weapons of Mass Seduction, Manchester University Press. Rampton, S. and Stauber, 2003. Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush’s War on Iraq. Robinson. Rutherford, P., 2004. Weapons of Mass Persuasion: Marketing the War Against Iraq. University of Toronto Press. Snow, N., 2003. Information War: American Propaganda, Free Speech and Opinion Control Since 9-11, Seven Stories Press. Taylor, P., 1999. British Propaganda in the 20th Century, Edinburgh University Press. Read More