Propaganda and Persuasion
Propaganda and Persuasion
The term “propaganda” became a kind of old-fashioned for communication theories after the
Cold War. But we can’t underestimate the power of propaganda today. Propaganda is defined via the eyes and the ears of the audience. (Kuehl 2014: 3) That’s why it is hard to find a definition which is completely proper for everyone in every time period. Even they both mostly have the same principles and purposes, we can’t use the same definition for Nazi’s propaganda and today’s digital propaganda. The concept of propaganda and it’s use is far more important than the evolution of the term itself. (Kuehl 2014: 9)
Persuasion and propaganda are generally used to imply same actions; but they are slightly different. We may need two different definitions to differentiate propaganda and persusion from each other. Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behaviour to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. (Jowet&O’Donnell 1992: 9) Persuasion is the process of trying to “move” one or more people –by using credible information, evidence, reasoning and emotional appeals- to a new or changed belief, attitude ,value or behaviour.
(Rogers: 2007: 5)
Joseph Goebbels -Reich Minister of Propaganda of the Nazi Germany- wrote his diaries: “Propaganda does not have anything to do with truth. We serve truth with serving
German victory.” Adolf Hitler elected by the citizens like most of the other dictators. It may be hard to understand how could German people made him won the elections. How couldn’t they predict the consequences? There are many parameters; but eventually we will realize same factor: Propaganda. People generally blame and evilized the propaganda just because of the success of the Nazi’s propaganda. Propaganda has nothing to do with the morality and the ethics in it’s nature. According to Hasswell, propaganda as a
The term “propaganda” became a kind of old-fashioned for communication theories after the
Cold War. But we can’t underestimate the power of propaganda today. Propaganda is defined via the eyes and the ears of the audience. (Kuehl 2014: 3) That’s why it is hard to find a definition which is completely proper for everyone in every time period. Even they both mostly have the same principles and purposes, we can’t use the same definition for Nazi’s propaganda and today’s digital propaganda. The concept of propaganda and it’s use is far more important than the evolution of the term itself. (Kuehl 2014: 9)
Persuasion and propaganda are generally used to imply same actions; but they are slightly different. We may need two different definitions to differentiate propaganda and persusion from each other. Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behaviour to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. (Jowet&O’Donnell 1992: 9) Persuasion is the process of trying to “move” one or more people –by using credible information, evidence, reasoning and emotional appeals- to a new or changed belief, attitude ,value or behaviour.
(Rogers: 2007: 5)
Joseph Goebbels -Reich Minister of Propaganda of the Nazi Germany- wrote his diaries: “Propaganda does not have anything to do with truth. We serve truth with serving
German victory.” Adolf Hitler elected by the citizens like most of the other dictators. It may be hard to understand how could German people made him won the elections. How couldn’t they predict the consequences? There are many parameters; but eventually we will realize same factor: Propaganda. People generally blame and evilized the propaganda just because of the success of the Nazi’s propaganda. Propaganda has nothing to do with the morality and the ethics in it’s nature. According to Hasswell, propaganda as a