Propaganda and Public Diplomacy

From World War II through the Cold War, from the September 11 attacks through the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and well beyond through many global events, governments have exercised their power over media to influence public opinion, both at home and abroad. In this course, we explore how propaganda is created, why it is effective, who uses it and why. We look at how “news” media become collaborators in influence campaigns and how media sometimes resist. Topics include the origins of contemporary propaganda and Nazi propaganda masters, propaganda and public diplomacy of the Cold War, the propaganda of war-making, contemporary social media propaganda and its effects on public opinion, and why social media, artificial intelligence technology and the decline of journalism make propaganda efforts more effective than ever. This course includes some disturbing—but real world—content.