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In Part II of a two-part series on totalitarian propaganda, we explore who is susceptible to this type of propaganda and how it poses a threat to democracy. 

We delve into a discussion of who is susceptible to totalitarian propaganda through the perspectives of prominent thinkers. Drawing from the works of Vaclav Havel, Hannah Arendt, Aldous Huxley, and Joost Meerloo, we explore the psychological and social dynamics that make individuals and societies vulnerable to totalitarian movements.

Key Points Discussed:

Vaclav Havel - Havel's reflection on humanity's intrinsic tendencies towards totalitarianism, highlighting the internal and external factors that lend support for such systems and undermine resistance to them.

Hannah Arendt - Arendt's examination of how totalitarian movements thrive on the isolation and atomization of individuals, demanding absolute loyalty and eroding normal social relationships.

Aldous Huxley - Huxley's analysis of Hitler's appeal to the lower middle classes, the manipulation of emotions and instincts, and the transformation of crowds into a collective mindlessness.

Joost Meerloo - Meerloo's insights into the psychological manipulation in complex political systems and the conditions that lead individuals to accept authoritarian rule.

Defeat of Democratic Systems/Institutions:

The video further discusses the factors leading to the erosion of democratic institutions and the superiority of totalitarian propaganda. Arendt's observations on the abuse of democratic freedoms and Huxley's views on the survival of democracy highlight the crucial need for informed and engaged citizenry.

Conclusion:

The concluding thoughts emphasize the perpetual threat posed by totalitarian movements and their destructive impact on humanity. 

Join us in this sobering exploration as we heed the warnings of history and recognize the importance of vigilance in preserving our democratic freedoms.

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Buzzsprout Podcast Website: https://propagandauniverse.buzzsprout.com

Link to Cognitive Crucible podcast: https://information-professionals.org/podcasts/cognitive-crucible/

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In this episode of Propaganda Universe, we delve into the world of totalitarian propaganda and its challenge to democratic systems. 

Join us as we explore the function and role of propaganda in totalitarian movements. We examine the relationship between power, propaganda, and totalitarianism, the aims of totalitarian propaganda, and some of its techniques. 

Drawing on the keen insights from leading scholars on totalitarianism we describe the unsettling nature of totalitarian propaganda and suggest parallels to a major portion of our contemporary political communication.    

Are we witnessing echoes of totalitarian propaganda in today's political landscape? What do you think?

And don't forget to tune in for Part Two of this series where we discuss our vulnerability to totalitarian propaganda and the survival of democratic systems in the face of totalitarian propaganda. 

View YouTube versions of this podcast and subscribe! You can also support our mission by making contributions through Patreon or PayPal.

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In this episode, we discuss the relationship between the control of information and propaganda. Propaganda and the control of information are two sides of the same coin as where you find one, you'll find the other. To understand how this works, please join me in...The Propaganda Universe!!

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This is part two of a two-part series on propaganda as the critical paradigm for understanding propaganda. In this episode, we present a formal theory of propaganda.

Please check out the video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FoUGDwomJow

Also, please visit my web page at https://www.propagandauniverse.net/.

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Or making a contribution at paypal.me/propagandauniverse.

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This is part one of a two part series on propaganda as the critical paradigm for understanding propaganda and proposing a formal theory for propaganda. In this episode, we discuss the absence of a framework for understanding propaganda and why it is important to have one. Pt. II of this series will propose a formal theory. 

If you find value in the mission of the universe, please consider joining its Patreon Community at patreon.com/PropagandaUniverse. Or making a contribution at paypal.me/propagandauniverse. 

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In previous episodes of Propaganda Universe, we've discussed the difficulty in defining propaganda and why it is a perplexing paradigm. Because of this "definitional fog", propaganda remains a vague concept that is used in whatever ways that suits the user of the term. This is a cause for confusion as to what propaganda is, which complicates its study and prevents us from having a full comprehension of how it functions. In this episode, we provide a clear and unambiguous definition of propaganda.

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When we think of power, it is usually in terms of some type of force or coercion being applied by one actor on another. However, power is better understood as a set of relations that exist between different actors where one actor has a greater capacity to influence another. The source of the relationship varies depending on the social context. In this episode, we explore how the capacity to influence in creating power relations occurs through communication in the form of propaganda.

If you would like to view a video of this podcast, please visit the Propaganda Universe YouTube Channel at:  https://www.youtube.com/@propagandauniverse

Also, please visit my web page at https://www.propagandauniverse.net/.

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A much maligned term, the notion of what we mean by propaganda has been obscured by its various interpretations to the extent that it has become a floating signifier to mean whatever a user wants it to be. Most often, it is used to cast an opponent's communication in a negative frame. In this episode, we explore the historical meaning of the term propaganda. Really.

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In this video, we discuss the historical difficulty in defining what propaganda is. This difficulty prevents us from understanding how it functions and how we should respond to it.  

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This is the introductory Podcast for Propaganda Universe. It explains the mission of the universe, who the host is, and discusses some basic themes of the channel.