Honestly there are millions of ways of creating propaganda in politics. Some are mild some are very harsh. For some, you will feel your blood pressure going up after reading.
I am sure you will raise your eyebrow reading some of the processes used in the history. They all form a part of politics.
Politics is a game of power. You have power, you will win; else you lose.
Remember, power is always scared of losing its place. It is always coward.
It always is in worry of someone else may take it over. This is the only reason why power is in attacking mode like a ‘cat found in corner’ and attacks even 100 times bigger dog.
Power is intoxication. Once you taste it, you will be addicted to it. Yet Power is always worried of losing the control.
1. Disinformation Campaigns
In the age of digital communication, disinformation campaigns have become a prevalent form of propaganda. Through social media platforms and online forums, state actors and non-state entities alike disseminate false information to sow confusion, create division, and manipulate public opinion.
For example, generally in India it is seen many times that if a person is murdered or a female is raped then media first searches the religion and sub-caste of the victim and then they will put a headline accordingly e.g., ‘An Adivasi teen aged allegedly gang-raped’ or ‘Dalit brutally murdered in public’ etc.
I If you see at both the incident, if the victim is not Adivasi or Dalit, has the offense a less importance or impact? No. Even if a person is from royal family and is assassinated, this is an equal level of offense. But by putting such communal words, I believe media is only trying to create division, manipulate public opinion and trying to intensify the incidents when they are already high intensified as soon as they occurred.
2. Cultural Diplomacy
Beyond traditional propaganda, cultural diplomacy plays a vital role in shaping perceptions on the global stage. Nations invest in promoting their culture, arts, and values to enhance their soft power and influence. This approach aims to create a positive image that can, in turn, impact political alliances and diplomatic relations.
3. Nationalistic or Emotional Appeals
Propaganda often taps into nationalistic sentiments, appealing to the pride and identity of a nation’s citizens. By framing international relations in terms of “us versus them,” political leaders can garner support for their policies and actions, fostering a sense of loyalty among the population. Propaganda often leverages emotional appeals to connect with the audience on a visceral level. By tapping into fear, patriotism, or empathy, propagandists can elicit strong emotional responses that shape perceptions and influence decision-making.
4. Selective Use of Facts and Statistics
Propaganda frequently relies on cherry-picking facts and statistics to bolster its message. By presenting a carefully curated set of data, propagandists can manipulate public understanding and create a distorted view of reality that aligns with their agenda.
Many-a-times, youtubers, bloggers use these techniques to create humour. They will only show selective piece of video or audio in their content to create humour. E.g., using that famous song ‘my patience is waning’ or a dialogue from the movie in the reels e.g. ‘the queue starts, where I stand.’
At global level, a prominent example could be related to Israel Hamas war. Only showing selective news from both the sides plays critical role in creating propaganda.
5. Celebrity Endorsements and Influencers
Utilizing celebrities or influential individuals to endorse political messages is a common propaganda tactic. The association with well-known figures can lend credibility to a cause or political figure, making the message more persuasive to a broad audience.
An example could be, when Donald Trump used FB as media market influencer and got a huge victory in assembly elections in USA.
6. Repetition and Slogans
Repetition is a powerful tool in propaganda. The consistent reiteration of key messages and slogans helps embed them in the collective consciousness. Over time, these repeated phrases become associated with certain beliefs or political ideologies.
7. Demonization of Opponents
Propaganda often involves portraying political opponents or rival nations in a negative light. By demonizing adversaries, propagandists seek to create a perception of a clear moral divide, justifying their own actions while vilifying others.
   Best example is Israel Hamas war, each one is demonizing other whereas true culprit behind this is someone else, you all know it.
8. Censorship and Control of Information
Governments and political entities may employ censorship to control the information available to the public. By restricting certain narratives or perspectives, they can maintain a tight grip on the prevailing discourse and limit opposition voices.
Example
The best example is of dynasty rule of Kim-Jon-Un in north Korea. He has controlled all the things in the country, right from what program people will watch on television, the news in the publicly displayed newspapers, who can own car of which colour, even hairstyle; everything is controlled by him. North Korea is now nuclear state and has enmity with USA. Now USA has put stringent sanctioned on them. Even after meeting each other three times, these sanctions could not be lifted up. Now Pyong Yang is in extreme need of foreign currency for which he is dealing in all kinds of illegal and immoral deals like drugs, human trafficking, cyber attacks to steal money etc.
In order for him to gain popularity in the world avoid human rights attacks, which will result in some money legally flowing in the country, he has always fully controlled the information, images, videos that are made in North Korea. He is now displaying his good public image and showing signs of developments to gain international attention. This is how Kim-Jon-Un is playing Propaganda card. No one is the best propagandist than Kim and Xi Jinping (Chinese President).
9. Astroturfing
Astroturfing involves creating the illusion of grassroots support for a particular cause or idea when, in reality, it is orchestrated and funded by a specific organization or government. This deceptive practice aims to give the impression of widespread public endorsement.
Classic example is, the foreign NGOs pumping money in one country showing the concern and support for poverty alleviation, support for religious developments, support for medical facilities etc. Now many-a-times it is noticed that it is for a cause but then the same money is used somewhere else such as for politically influenced riot to create unrest nationwide, communal unrests and riots, for attacking the military by way of terror financing, spoiling youths and their aims by addicting them to drugs, alcohol etc. The creation of a false appearance of grassroots support for a specific cause or idea, wherein, in reality, it is carefully orchestrated and financially backed by a particular organization or government to serve an alternative agenda.
10. Creating Enemy Images
Propaganda often thrives on the construction of enemy images. By framing certain groups or nations as existential threats, propagandists generate a sense of urgency and fear, justifying measures that might otherwise be met with resistance.
   The classic example could be, again, Israel Hamas war in 2023. Everyone knows who started it, how Hamas entered in Israel and showed brutality. But when it was time to retaliate, most of the countries blamed Israel of being war crime. One can attack on others’ territory but then should also be ready for heavy consequences or else shut the business. Everyone has right to defend themselves. Sometimes attack is also a defense. Like India did a pre-emptive military strike in Pakistan to neutralize the terrorist gathered there. It was successful strike back in February 2019.
11. Use of New Technologies
Advancements in technology open new avenues for propaganda, including deepfakes, AI-generated content, and sophisticated digital manipulation. These tools allow propagandists to create highly convincing and misleading information. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Needless to say, that technology has advantages and dis-advantage both. People get to earn in different ways, they learn new things, security etc. are some of the advantages of technologies; however, hacking, online frauds etc. are the disadvantages of the technologies. Nowadays, AI (artificial Intelligence) is the new technology that helps politicians to create, alter contents or videos or images in order to create propaganda.
Conclusion
Understanding these diverse methods of propaganda creation is essential for individuals to critically evaluate information, fostering a more informed and discerning public in the realm of global politics.
