Selling American Fascism - propaganda and the Republican brand
Conditions in Germany in the early 20th century that lead to Nazi rise and subsequent developments echo conditions in the US at the beginning of the 21st century.
Here's my premise: conditions in Germany in the early 20th century seem to echo our own at the beginning of the 21st. Instability created by those conditions allowed Nazis to come to power, and, in a very short amount of time to reshape Germany in terrifying ways. While Germany experienced instability in the course of and as a response to events as they unfolded without someone planning or even foreseeing these consequences (more on that in another post), one could argue that American instability is being engineered specifically with hope of certain consequences arising.
I'm not prone to conspiracy theories, and I'm not suggesting that an evil genius puppeteer is pulling all the strings (nor am I fully denying the idea that such a person, or, likelier, a group of people, exists). However, it's just as easy to imagine that people acting in response to certain conditions and under a certain umbrella of beliefs will choose specific channels to express these beliefs. I use the word 'channels' intentionally. Just like water will follow contours of geography when flowing over land (and in turn make changes to the geography as it flows), I imagine that human will expresses itself via contours of society and technology available - in turn affecting both and either perpetuating the conditions or transforming itself, depending on how those conditions change.
I've been enthralled by the Republican propaganda machine and the enormous and enormously successful echo chamber it created through constant media assault and consistent distortion of reality by Republican thought leaders and politicians. I grew up in the Soviet Union, where propaganda was one of the main tools of thought control, and most of us have also been exposed to the mythical presentation of Nazi Germany with its militaristic imagery, swastikas, parades, air of invincibility, and so on. I was struck by what appeared to be a similarity between how Republicans were manipulating their base and how the Soviets and the Nazis influenced and brainwashed their respective countries' populations.
So I decided to read up on some materials to see if this is just a casual observation that has little basis in reality, or if there are really similar themes, conditions, and tactics that are being used to convert decent people into fascist support fodder.
My reading list so far includes:
Selling Hitler - Propaganda & the Nazi Brand by Nicholas O'Shaughnessy
How Nazi Propaganda Works: Divide and Conquer - 1942 US pamphlet with introduction by Ted Lipien
State of Deception - the power of Nazi Propaganda from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by David Grossman
The Soviet Image by Peter Rodestky.
I'm sure I will find other materials as I'm working through this short-list.
I'm going to start with "Selling Hitler," and share my notes from the book and observations about them.
Wherever it makes sense I will find a reference to support my material.