Peter Pomerantsev, contributor at The Atlantic and author of This Is Not Propaganda, dives into the intricacies of propaganda in America. He discusses how propaganda has evolved and affects our perception today, paralleling emotional strategies from past wars with modern media. Pomerantsev explores the blend of reality TV and political narratives, revealing how personality-driven politics shape our engagement. He emphasizes the balance of competition and collaboration needed to combat this manipulation, grounding his insights in historical contexts.
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insights INSIGHT
Propaganda's Negative Connotation
Propaganda's negative connotation might stem from its association with the Catholic Church during the Reformation.
Protestant countries viewed anything Catholic negatively, tainting the originally neutral term.
insights INSIGHT
Propaganda vs. Public Education
Propaganda is mass persuasion benefiting the persuader, not the audience, unlike public education.
It often involves deception, manipulating people into actions they wouldn't otherwise take.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Truth's Diminished Value in Russia and the U.S.
Peter Pomerantsev's experience in Russia revealed a world where truth holds little value due to propaganda.
He found similar cynical sentiments about truth and trust in the U.S.
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In this book, Peter Pomerantsev recounts his experiences working in the Russian TV industry, where he encountered a world of professional killers, Kremlin puppet-masters, suicidal supermodels, and oligarch revolutionaries. The book is a kaleidoscopic series of anecdotes and vignettes that reveal the corruption, decadence, and rapid changes in post-Soviet Russia. Pomerantsev's observations highlight the subtle yet powerful form of dictatorship that has emerged under the Putin regime, challenging the West with its unique blend of illusion, glamor, and authoritarian control.
This Is Not Propaganda
Adventures in the War Against Reality
Peter Pomeransev
In 'This Is Not Propaganda,' Peter Pomerantsev delves into the world of disinformation and propaganda, exploring how these tactics have been used to shape reality and undermine democracy. The book blends reportage, family history, and intellectual adventure, taking readers from Russia to the Philippines, Ukraine, and the United States. Pomerantsev meets various figures, including Twitter revolutionaries, pop-up populists, and 'behavioral change' salesmen, to understand the mechanisms of modern propaganda. He argues that the manipulation of truth is a global issue, not limited to Russia, and that it affects individuals' deepest thoughts and feelings. The book also discusses efforts to counter these propaganda techniques and restore faith in democracy and factual information.
Peter Pomerantsev, a contributor at The Atlantic and author of This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality, is an expert on the ways information can be manipulated. For this special episode, Megan talks with Peter about the role of propaganda in America and how to watch out for it.
Looking for more great audio from The Atlantic? Check outAutocracy in America, hosted by Peter Pomerantsev and staff writer Anne Applebaum. Subscribe wherever you listen.
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