Propaganda in Twentieth Century War and Politics

by Robert Cole

Collects and comments on materials about the theory and practice of propaganda in twentieth century war and politics. World War I was the first "total" war in history, and propaganda was disseminated to affirm the righteous cause, sustain morale, discomfit the enemy, placate allies, and pressure neutrals. The process continued in each war thereafter, down to and including the 1991 Gulf War, differentiating only to the extent that propagandists had access to ever more elaborate technologies of mass communications.

The bibliography includes works about propaganda theory; sources that deal with the motivation, planning, and purpose of propaganda; includes sources relating to the media through which the propaganda was disseminated; and samples of actual propaganda, ranging from feature films to published pamphlets. The author has chosen entries that provide the most useful sampling of the great variety of propaganda theory and practice that has developed in the twentieth century, with reference specifically to war and politics.

416 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 1996

Reviews

[Citlalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful book for the study of propaganda and mass media, for those of us who want to study this topic deeper. It mostly offers secondary, but also primary sources, especially from the United States and Britain, mostly from WWI and WWII and a chapter dedicated to the Cold War.
Important to note this book was published in 1996, so some of its sources may need updating by now.