Propaganda by Edward L Bernays
PROPAGANDA
By EDWARD L. BERNAYS
1928
CONTENTS
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. ORGANIZING CHAOS .................................................. THE NEW PROPAGANDA ............................................ THE NEW PROPAGANDISTS .... 9 19 32 47 62
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC ....
PROPAGANDA AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP 92 WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES
AND
PROPAGANDA . . .
115 121 135 141 150
PROPAGANDA FOR EDUCATION PROPAGANDA IN SOCIAL SERVICE .
ART AND SCIENCE ..................................................... THE MECHANICS OF PROPAGANDA . .
CHAPTER I
ORGANIZING CHAOS
THE conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. Our invisible governors are, in many cases, unaware of the identity of their fellow members in the inner cabinet. They govern us by their qualities of natural leadership, their ability to supply needed ideas and by their key position in the social structure. Whatever attitude one chooses to take toward this condition, it remains a fact that in almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are 9
Propaganda dominated by the relatively small number of persons—a trifling fraction of our hundred and twenty million—who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind, who harness
By EDWARD L. BERNAYS
1928
CONTENTS
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. ORGANIZING CHAOS .................................................. THE NEW PROPAGANDA ............................................ THE NEW PROPAGANDISTS .... 9 19 32 47 62
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC ....
PROPAGANDA AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP 92 WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES
AND
PROPAGANDA . . .
115 121 135 141 150
PROPAGANDA FOR EDUCATION PROPAGANDA IN SOCIAL SERVICE .
ART AND SCIENCE ..................................................... THE MECHANICS OF PROPAGANDA . .
CHAPTER I
ORGANIZING CHAOS
THE conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. Our invisible governors are, in many cases, unaware of the identity of their fellow members in the inner cabinet. They govern us by their qualities of natural leadership, their ability to supply needed ideas and by their key position in the social structure. Whatever attitude one chooses to take toward this condition, it remains a fact that in almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are 9
Propaganda dominated by the relatively small number of persons—a trifling fraction of our hundred and twenty million—who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind, who harness