["1984" Reflection Research Paper] The Cause, Motive, and Effect of Using Propaganda

Throughout history, numerous totalitarian leaders have taken control of different governments. They implemented destructive policies: Hitler, a German leader in the early 1900s, killed countless people under Nazism, and Mao Zedong, a Chinese communist, established a lasting totalitarian government in China. One may wonder, “How did some of these unreasonable totalitarian governments gain and preserve popularity despite exploiting the people?” All governments—especially totalitarian governments—use propaganda to control the populace. Propaganda is a type of information—not always valid and often manipulated—that spreads through mass media and popular cultures to promote or degrade individuals, groups, or policies. Propaganda manipulates the populace with false or exaggerated information that seems to appeal to the populace's needs and, at the same time, promotes a draconian policy. 

Totalitarian governments use propaganda to control the populace since the greatest threat to them is the populace. In contrast to the conventional view of the government’s superior influence upon the people, the power of government derives from the people, and the government needs to earn the favor of the people by providing for their welfare. Thus, totalitarian governments, whose aims are not usually the well-being of the people, need propaganda to spread their message among the “proles” and to preserve their power. Those governments attempt to hold their control over people by duping and instigating people to trust them and their policies. Not only do they produce false, exaggerated, or manipulative messages that would appeal to the people, but “often [they] stop at nothing to crush any kind of counterpropaganda” (Smith). In other words, the use of propaganda in government seems inevitable: Propaganda can help silence opposing views and promote only a narrative that is conducive to what the government is perpetuating, inhibiting the audiences from accessing a wider spectrum of perspectives and indirectly forcing them to accept only selected ideas. 

With the assumed need to control the populace, governments utilize propaganda because it is accessible, highly exposed, and efficient. Propaganda is infused in the form of accessible and familiar media highly accessible to the populace. Approaching the people through familiar media can help them access and become accustomed to the promoted ideas without considering much about the ideas’ political complexity. Moreover, the mediums through which the propaganda is spread are significantly influential to the people and their mentality. Though people may not be aware of or are not interested in the propaganda at the outset, constant exposure to the ideas will invariably have a massive exposure effect. The effect makes the ideas appear favorable to the people. Thus, the ideas and policies of the governments can virally spread and have the potential to create a psychological impact on the people. Efficiency is also the key advantage of using propaganda to manipulate the populace. Since the ideas infused through media tend to circulate through people and social circles, they can reach wider audiences and influence them through the already-reached ones. The governments need not mind much about the popularity and stay efficient once the propaganda becomes pervasive in the people in a corresponding way. 

The pervasive promotion of totalitarian governments can successfully result in blind support by the populace. Propaganda only exhibits a hopeful and positive message—though it may differ from the reality—that underscores the governments’ endeavor for the well-being of the people. Thus, with the ideas infused and spread through popular media, people tend to believe the propaganda in a blind and optimistic faith for a better life. This strategy outputs better especially when the populace is in desperate need or shortages. For instance, Hitler cleverly used the political and economic instability of Germany to rise to power. Not only was Germany internationally degraded as a result of their defeat in World War I, but they were also impacted by the Wall Street Crash in 1929 (“The Nazi Rise to Power”), and depression prevailed in the nation. Thus, Hitler, taking advantage of the depression, promoted himself by “[aiming] to exploit people’s fear of uncertainty and instability. These messages varied from ‘Bread and Work’, aimed at the working class and the fear of unemployment, to a ‘Mother and Child’ poster portraying the Nazi ideals regarding women” (“The Naxi Rise to Power”). Hitler, consequently, succeeded in rising to power and earning the blind and fanatic support of the re-ignited Germans. As such examples prove, propaganda appealing to the needs of people can expand and secure the power of the totalitarian regime. 

Propaganda manipulates the people by appealing to and promoting authoritative and often destructive policies of totalitarian governments. The totalitarian governments need to control the populace to preserve their power and avoid any uproars from the people. Using propaganda can appeal to the masses by a familiar and people-friendly approach. Also, it limits access to any counterpoint views that people may consider, thereby forcing the government’s ideas to the populace. These strategies in using popular media and propaganda can heavily influence people and make them feel acquainted with the government as well. Consequently, totalitarian governments can earn the support of the people who can help them rise to power. As propaganda’s nature is to spread false, exaggerated, and biased ideas, one must always stay cautious in accepting media and worldviews. 

Works Cited

"The Nazi Rise to Power." The Holocaust Explained, Weiner Holocaust Library, 

www.theholocaustexplained.org/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-nazi-rise-to-power/propag

anda/

Smith, Bruce Lannes. "Propaganda." Britannica.