Legal Definitions - propaganda

Definition: Propaganda is the systematic spreading of information, rumors, or ideas to promote or harm a particular cause or view. It can be used to incite dissatisfaction among citizens, manipulate people of another nation, incite civil war or revolution, or encourage support for a war.

• Defamatory propaganda: This type of propaganda is used to undermine government authority by spreading false or negative information. It is often used during wartime but can also be used during peacetime. For example, during World War II, the Nazis spread propaganda that portrayed Jews as evil and dangerous, which led to the persecution and murder of millions of Jews.
• Hostile propaganda: This type of propaganda is used by one nation to manipulate the people of another nation to support or oppose their government. It is also known as ideological aggression. For example, during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union used propaganda to promote their respective ideologies and gain support from other nations.
• Subversive propaganda: This type of propaganda is calculated to incite civil war or revolution. It can be instigated by another nation, in which case it is known as hostile propaganda. For example, during the Vietnam War, the United States used propaganda to try to turn the Vietnamese people against the communist government.
• War-mongering propaganda: This type of propaganda is used to encourage support for a war and to encourage the government to declare or join in a war, regardless of any legal constraints. For example, during the lead-up to the Iraq War, the United States government used propaganda to convince the American people that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was a threat to national security.

These examples illustrate how propaganda can be used to manipulate people's beliefs and opinions, often with harmful consequences. It is important to be aware of propaganda and to critically evaluate the information we receive to avoid being misled.