Propaganda

This important new book assembles the work of leading figures in contemporary propaganda scholarship. Analyzing propaganda from a multidisciplinary focus, the book presents several contemporary theoretical perspectives, explores key issues in propaganda analysis, and defines two major research traditions while providing examples of their applications. The contributors examine many of the most complicated issues in the field: the nature of suggestion, the relation of propaganda to ideology, and the interaction of pluralism and truth. Various chapters, written by scholars of communication, rhetoric, journalism, mass communication, government, history, and political science, consider both historical and contemporary issues and events in relation to propaganda. Propaganda: A Pluralistic Perspective marks the renewed development of scholarship in this fascinating field and extends the depth and range of propaganda analysis.

The book begins with a focus on theoretical and definitional concerns, including a history of American propaganda analysis and traces four social responses to the subject. Further chapters develop different theoretical positions from diverse perspectives. The book concludes with a focus on key issues in propaganda research, including a study of First Amendment issues in the recent legal controversy over the classification of three Canadian films as political propaganda. Students and scholars of communication, rhetoric, journalism, history, political science, sociology, and many other disciplines will find Propaganda: A Pluralistic Perspective a provocative book full of stimulating ideas.

TED J. SMITH, III, is an Associate Professor in the School of Mass Communications, Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of the 1988 books Moscow Meets Main Street and The Vanishing Economy.