A Guided Tour with Founders Tom and Lilka Areton
What is propaganda?
Propaganda is the calculated manipulation of information designed to shape public opinion and behavior to predetermined ends, as desired by the propagandist. It is usually emotional and repetitive, either designed to increase enthusiasm for a proposed utopian world or to escalate rage and hatred against a designated enemy—often a religion, an economic or political system, a race, or a special group. Propaganda, in its essence, is art in the service of political power. Subjectivity, disinformation, exaggeration, and the outright falsification of facts are the hallmarks of propaganda practitioners.
Chapter 1: Leader Idealization
Chapter 2: Threat of fear and intimidation
The threat of fear and intimidation through physical detention, sudden disappearances, and extralegal executions.
Chapter 3: Glorification of the Nation
Chapter 4: Promotion of the common people
The workers, women, peasants, and students all become great heroes of the nation.
Chapter 5: Vilification
In order to stay in power, governments need to find central enemies to blame and demonize. The enemies can be political opponents, religious and ethnic minorities, or economic groups.
Chapter 6: Veneration of the Military
Statues, posters, uniforms, and medals bedeck the heroes of the country to remind the nation of the glory of past wars and struggles yet to come.
Chapter 7: Post-1989
This period is marked by the ridicule, criticism, and commercialization of the past political systems, the leaders, and the ideas that subjugated the people.