Jason Stanley Problem Of Propaganda Summary

In Jason Stanley’s chapter, The Problem of Propaganda, Stanley’s main argument is the problem of flawed ideology and how it goes alongside with harmful propaganda. He further explains that democracy in the United States is based off illusionary appeal and which in truth is deception toward the public. He explains how the language of democracy is illusionary appeal, which hides the true undemocratic reality. Flawed ideology and propaganda went hand in hand with Nazism and the democracy system in the United States. According to Victor Klemperer, Nazi Germany during World War I, people were confused and seduced into believing their what they were doing was right for the country. This flawed ideology for Nazi’s was a National Socialist ideology, …show more content…
He believes that the language of democracy is a cover for an “undemocratic reality” which is something that appears to be democratic but underneath it is a misconception. This misconception is used for authoritarian regimes to deceitfully control the public in contradictory of what is best interest of the public. For example Stanley uses economic theory of democracy, which is “a policy is genuinely democratic if it is voted on by the majority vote by fully rational agents who are wholly self-interested.” (11) In reality people may not know what is in their best interest and may choose options that are laid out for them by people who may not have their best interest. The voting system is an example of choices that are already laid out for the public. Propaganda is an outlet that also can be very harmful for the public if they don’t know what to question. It can manipulate the public into believing that they are acting on heroism and what they believe is best for the county. As a democratic county which values equality for all is hypocrisy in the United States. This brings up the question of managerial states, which use the language of a liberal democracy to hide its true