On Propaganda

Text in English to type

by K. Polanyi

I. Function of propaganda in respect to the body social.

II. How does it achieve its function.

III. How is propaganda worked.
The technique of propaganda.

IV. Counter-propaganda.

V. Is propaganda "untrue"
Scientific and Artistic Truth.

VI. The limitations of propaganda (a) The ambivalence of psychological effects
(b) Predispositions
(c) Propaganda - consciousness (a limit)

VII. Politics, History, and Propaganda

I. Function of (morale) in respect to the body social

[2] If a group has decided on a cause of action it must build up its solidarity in order to be effective. Why?
Because all action involving (a) the submerging of the pro's and con's of the argument to the decision which preceded
(b) any action will affect different individuals and their groupings in different ways (scetionalism - regionality otherwise) and the actual degree is uncertain; (age groups, sex groups, income groups)
(c) Action involves risks, at least temporarily, of bad patches

(How does propaganda attain its purpose?)

II. How does it achieve its function

[3] Propaganda creates solidarity by reducing emotional forces from simple feelings to the highest forms of faith.

These (a) eliminate the con's
(b) The sectionalism (differences in sex, age, income)
(c) the bad patches
and thus
(a) unify
(b) protect the will
(c) create the precondition od discipline

Means: symbols and slogans, including idealization - these release emotions.

This is the effect of propaganda.

III. The technique of propaganda

[4]

IV. Counter-propaganda. [5]

V. The truth value of propaganda == [6]

VI. The limitations of propaganda [7]

VII. Politics, History, and Propaganda [8] It is very doubtful whether groups are ever formed by propaganda, or rather only consolidated by it; whether they ever decide on policy on account of propaganda, or only listen to propaganda which favors the line of policy which they have chosen on other grounds.

Politics (narrow sense) based partly on use of propaganda.
History - never decided by propaganda.
Action - always implying the use of propaganda (and counter-propaganda)

That man is attracted by woman is not due to the existence of love poetry. How he gained her may be partly due to it, but if she does not like him, she won't listen. However, no person who is really in love will say that the term love means nothing at all.

Text Informations

Reference:
Lecture: August 1940
KPA: 18/22