Introduction:
Welcome to our presentation. As Ukrainians who have been living in the realities of
the war between Russia and Ukraine for the past ten years and who have been
directly affected by Russian propaganda, we would like to discuss the following
question: to what extent Russian propaganda about the Russia-Ukraine war
impacted civilians?
1. Propaganda, once used to be about promoting ideas and activities, but now
has become about influencing people by choosing what information to share,
using psychology tricks, and subtly persuading them.
2. The Behistun Inscription tells the story of King Darius I defeating his enemies.
It was made to show Darius as a strong leader. This old writing is an example
of how rulers used stories and pictures to make people think a certain way
about them. What is depicted in the photograph is one of the earliest proofs of
the existence of propaganda dating back 2,500 years.
3. “Propagation,” for example, is still so used today.
4. The Catholic Church started using 'propaganda' to spread religious beliefs
instead of just plants and animals. They set up a group called the
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to help with this. It was part of
their plan to teach Catholicism to more people around the world.
5. Throughout history, propaganda has changed into a powerful way of shaping
what people think. At first, it was just about spreading information, but over
time, it became more about controlling people's thoughts. Nowadays,
propaganda is like sneaky information that's carefully made to make people
believe certain things, often by playing on their feelings and what they already
think.
6. Propaganda often relies heavily on emotional manipulation to achieve its
objectives. By tapping into our deepest fears, desires, and prejudices,
propaganda has a remarkable ability to evoke strong emotional responses
that can override rational judgement. On the slide you can see a picture of
escaped slave Peter Gordon. It was used in many anti-slavery pamphlets
around 1865.
7. Modern propaganda began when newspapers became popular in the 19th
century. Later, radio and TV made it even more powerful. Propaganda is
when people try to influence others by sharing information that's often
biassed. With newspapers, radio, and TV, it became easier to spread
messages to many people quickly. Governments and political groups realised
they could use these media to shape what people thought. Today, with the
internet, propaganda can reach even more people.
8. Propaganda tries to shape opinion with a clever mix of tools: rhetorical
devices and simplistic generalities that have a positive connotation but don't
really mean anything specific.By using catchy phrases and emotional
language, propaganda can make people feel strongly about something
without providing real evidence or information. This can be powerful because
it appeals to people's emotions rather than their critical thinking skills.
9. The intentional use of widespread propaganda really kicked off during World
War I. Governments on all sides used posters, newspapers, and other media
to sway public opinion in their favour. They spread messages to boost morale,
recruit soldiers, and demonise the enemy. This was the first time propaganda
was used on such a large scale, showing its power to influence people's
thoughts and actions during times of conflict.
10. Here you can see examples of different types of propaganda posters from
WW1 from countries such as England and others.
11. Mostly, posters tried to persuade men to join friends and family who had
already volunteered by making them feel like they were missing out. The fear
and the anger that people felt against their enemy was used to recruit men for
the armed services. Women also were encouraged to put pressure on their
sons, brothers, husbands and fathers to join the army.
12. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime understood the power of propaganda very
well. Hitler appointed a Minister of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment
shortly after coming to power. The Ministry of Propaganda played a central
role in shaping public opinion, promoting Nazi ideology, and increasing Hitler's
control over Germany. They use various media channels, including
newspapers, radio broadcasts, films, posters, and even school books, to
spread Nazi propaganda and manipulate public perception. Propaganda was
used to promote the cult of personality around Hitler, demonise Jews and
other targeted groups, and rally support for Nazi policies, including
militarization and aggression.
13. Both sides engaged in extensive propaganda campaigns to promote their
respective political systems, discredit their adversaries, and win over
international support. The United States and its allies employed propaganda
to depict communism as a threat to freedom, democracy, and individual
rights. They highlighted the economic prosperity and political freedoms
enjoyed in the West, contrasting it with the repression and censorship
prevalent in communist regimes. On the other hand, the Soviet Union and its
allies used propaganda to portray capitalism as exploitative, imperialistic, and
morally bankrupt. They emphasised the achievements of socialism, such as
economic equality and social justice, while condemning the inequalities and
injustices inherent in capitalist societies.
Conclusion:
Russian propaganda about the Russia-Ukraine war has had significant impacts on
civilians, both within Ukraine and internationally. It has had far-reaching
consequences for civilians, impacting their safety, well-being, and perceptions of the
conflict. Efforts to counter propaganda and promote accurate information are crucial
for mitigating these impacts and fostering peace and stability in the region.
● Misinformation and Manipulation: Russian propaganda has spread
misinformation and manipulated facts about the conflict, leading to confusion
among civilians.
● Heightened Tensions: Propaganda can stoke fear, hatred, and animosity
between different groups, exacerbating tensions within society.
● Displacement and Refugee Crisis: The conflict started by Russian
propaganda has caused significant displacement within Ukraine, as well as
forced many Ukrainians to leave the country as refugees.
● Psychological Impact: Exposure to propaganda can have a profound
psychological impact on civilians, causing anxiety, stress, and trauma.
● Undermining Trust in Media and Institutions: Russian propaganda has
undermined trust in independent media and democratic institutions, as it
seeks to promote its own narratives and discredit alternative sources of
information.
● International Relations: Russian propaganda about the conflict has also
influenced perceptions of the war on the international stage.
