In times of war, words are one of the most powerful weapons that can be used. This is what’s called “propaganda”. It’s a form of communication with the purpose of swaying group opinion or rallying people behind a cause. It has been found in records dating back to antiquity, and it’s still a big source of public manipulation that is used by many governments worldwide. It exists in many different forms, but all aim to achieve the same thing: to mold the narrative of reality.
One of the first examples of propaganda was found in ancient Persia. The Behistun Inscription describes the autobiography and rise of King Darius I. According to the relief, the Persian throne was usurped by someone claiming to be the brother of the king, Cambyses. Cambyses moved to deal with the usurper, but died on the way. With this, his cousin Darius went to assassinate the new king and claim the throne. This scene is what the relief depicts: him standing over the defeated king and his prisoners, his victory being a sign of blessing.
Another example of ancient propaganda can be seen in Egypt, hidden in art. The Ramesseum is a large temple dedicated to Ramesses II, with carved pictures all over its walls. Within them lies a glorified tale of Ramesses. It tells of his victories in battle and his conquests as a commander, making him out to be one of the greatest conquerors of his time. It’s one of the earliest examples of propaganda.
To see large-scale examples of propaganda, however, we have to turn to more recent years. WWI is when propaganda techniques became integral, with both sides of the war using different but similar tactics. Germany released newspapers aimed at occupied zones and usually followed a theme of depicting their soldiers as noble and righteous, certain to win decisively—a form of propaganda known as a “bandwagon.”. Western powers focused more on demonizing the enemy. The Central Powers were openly depicted as inhumane brutes, and some media outlets made claims that if “you don’t join the war, they will attack you.”. This is called an “appeal to fear”.
There were also attempts made to control the media, with Britain establishing the Wellington House, an organization with the purpose of writing and managing the news to obtain a better public image.
Perhaps the most effective piece of propaganda wasn’t released until the last year of the war. The United States released the “Fourteen Points” in 1918, outlining what they would fight to preserve. It created a positive effect and enforced the idea that the Allied powers were the noble ones.
With WWI establishing the importance of propaganda, it saw a much more intense age as the opposing powers were in a race to undermine each other. Both sides frequently used techniques such as fear-mongering, stereotyping, slogans, constant repetition (ad nauseum), and many others. The US and Britain used both fear-mongering and patriotism at times, encouraging people to enlist and/or donate to the army. Posters and comics mocking the Axis leaders were common, pushing the belief that this was a war that’d already been won.
Germany followed a similar path, using sensational content to provoke feelings of patriotism. Hitler was shown as a hero, leading his people righteously. This is called a “cult of personality.”. They also used demonization and scapegoating techniques, forming a common hatred of Jews while also drawing attention from warfare failures. Later in the war, they painted themselves as “defenders of Soviet ideology against Europe”.
Propaganda plays a crucial role during times of conflict, whether it is ancient rebellions or modern world wars. It’s used to maintain unity through hardship and is a powerful tool still used by leaders to shape the course of war. It has an effect not only on warfare but also on public perception and behaviour, oftentimes leaving behind marks that last decades.
All in all, propaganda is an important tool that has a wide range of uses, especially during wartime. For thousands of years, it has been employed to preserve integrity, shape perception, and manipulate the public. Propaganda has undebatably shaped history and will remain an integral part of warfare and leadership.
