Does Propaganda Play A Role In War

According to Harold D. Lasswell propaganda has four objectives: “to mobilize hatred against the enemy, to preserve the friendship of allies, to preserve the friendship and, if possible, to procure the co-operation of neutrals and to demoralize the enemy.”(source.)


"Hatred propaganda is always necessary in war time to arouse and intensify animosity against military and diplomatic rivals and to attract neutral support"(Lasswell, p.15)

The above quotes written by Harold D.Lasswell states that propaganda is a necessary tool in war. I find this particualar statement by Lasswell to be true, because propaganda can be used to suggest something as negative and dishonest. Propaganda can also be used to demoralize and manipulate .

"Often times propaganda is a technique used to influence human action."(Lasswell,p.1)

Propaganda relating to the war is most often displayed by speechs ,news reports and pictures taken . The act of war which is most often associated with conflict can be intensified by propaganda. In a war propaganda can be used to confuse individuals opinions and involvement in the war. For example the on War in Iraq , propaganda plays the role in influencing there audience with false and negative exaggerted stories,which for some people this can be used as a tool to moblize hatred. I state this because some individuals are for the war while others are against it.