Propaganda u službi manipulativnog komuniciranja / Propaganda in the Service of Manipulative Communication

Abstract

This paper focuses on propaganda as a form of one-sided, manipulative communication. We are exposed to various types of manipulation every day. Given that every form of manipulation involves some kind of interest, it is necessary then to tackle the very core of the issue i.e., to clarify the ways in which propaganda works to implicitly reach predetermined and desirable goals. Propaganda, as one of the communicative aspects of manipulation, has got an extremely complex content value and therefore the strongest influence on communication. It is important to note that communication as a category related to propaganda is, as such, mostly considered at the level of social groups, communities and the public. Propaganda communication, therefore, affects public opinion and can change the very course of communication. This paper aims to describe the relationship between propaganda and communication first, while correlating them to some other, similar concepts, such as informing. Further in the paper, we focus on the idea of propaganda as a planned and organized form of manipulation. In the final part, propaganda is considered within a broader framework of communication.