Subtle Strategy
The scheme of Propaganda
Political tug of war between Liberals and Conservative have been perpetuating for a long time worldwide. Each side uses various tactics strategies to assume power over another. There have been various and very famous literature pieces presented from both sides offering their cases to strengthen the support for their cause. George Lakoff and Adolf Hitler are iconic examples of personalities who have utilized literature to manipulate the public to support their cause. Although both authors are from different periods, have different intentions, and have different ideologies, both utilize a very similar strategy to strengthen and reinforce their ideals in public to gain support.
In his book “Don’t think of an elephant,” George Lakoff expands upon the strategies that conservatives have been utilizing over the years to rule over the political realm of America. Being a cognitive science professor, he explains the concept of linguistic frames that humans create to understand the world around them. He then describes how conservatives take advantage of these frames to allure the public into supporting the conservative side. As the author writes, he delivers his message to his liberal audience. Still, he implicitly uses and creates liberal frames for his audience by suggesting strategies for liberal politics. He utilizes the word “progressive side” instead of “liberal side” in most instances when he compares conservatives and liberals. He incorporates the concept of framing in his book. When his audience reads “progressive side,” they are supposedly making an immediate connection that being a liberal means being for the progression and betterment of the country, while being a conservative is being against the government. He uses this subconscious concept to advance the support for the liberal side further.
Another instance when he uses his concept of framing among liberals is when he says, “These are the nurturant values — and they are the progressive values… you all have them… You know you have them. You recognize them” (Lakoff, 32). Such an assertive statement reinforces the values of a liberal-minded person and uses the frames to relate to his audience and gain their support. The real purpose of using the statement “You know you have them” is to create that linguistic frame. He establishes the concept that if one is liberal or progressive, they have the values of a nurturant parent. They possess the emotions of sympathy and empathy and are kind to their child. Although these concepts are found in the liberal population, the author reinforces these values by using the liberal linguistic frame to gain people’s support for the liberal side while creating a concept dictating that being progressive means being a nurturing, robust and hardworking parent who protects his child from world’s evil and raise them as righteous being. Lakoff uses various linguistic frames to reinforce liberal ideas into his audience while deconstructing the same concept using the example of the opposite side.
Similarly, Adolf Hitler, in his article “The Purpose of Propaganda,” talks about the failure of the German government in alluring the German public for the war. He blames that the German government did a poor job in arousing the public to support the war, which was why Germany had to face such devastating consequences. He moves on to talk about Propaganda and lists several strategies for driving a successful propaganda campaign, but in doing so, like Lakoff, he also incorporates elements of Propaganda to encourage his audience to be against Jews. As he talks about the strategies of Propaganda, he says, “Certainly we don’t have to discuss these matters with the Jews… Their whole existence is an embodied protest against the aesthetics of the Lord’s image.” (Hitler, 539). Hitler incorporates very subtle but powerful Propaganda to foster hate against the Jews. Going back to the time that this essay was written, Germany had become a failed state, people were desperate, and the economy was worse. With the conditions present, it can easily be assumed that a German leader in 1925 would be willing to accept any form of suggestions and advice to bring his country back to its glory. Hitler used that open-mindedness to his advantage as he directed and propagandized the hatred against Jews. Alike Lakoff, Hitler also utilizes the same concept in his writing while deconstructing it.
Despite using the same strategy, Hitler and Lakoff are set apart by their motives and their ideology. Lakoff’s purpose seems to be advancing the liberal ideology and deconstructing the strategies utilized by the opposition ideology. He seems to be providing various areas of improvement for the liberals while he analyzes the strategies and mindset of the conservatives. He also provides a real-time example of conservatives’ psychological strategy to promote their ideas. While on the other hand, Hitler writes his essay on a very conservative and patriotic theme. He analyzes the propaganda strategy of the German government to explain the failure of the government. He suggests new methods of Propaganda as well as attempts to fuel hatred against certain religious sects. Hitler and Lakoff use almost similar strategies to promote their concept and gain support, but they still differ on the ideology spectrum, on the use of their strategy, and based on their Argument.
Political Argument is a never-ending conversation. Everything is right, and is everything is wrong, depending on one’s ideology and perspective. But, alas, the political leaders often find means and ways to drive the population from one side of the spectrum. As said, the greater the population, the lower the intelligence. Many leaders have used this phenomenon as a strategic resort to gain power and maintain that position for years. Whether it is necessary to keep a balance in the world or just a selfish motive of human nature, unfortunately, it is often the unsuspecting public that has to face the consequences for being the victims of the political rhetoric.
Work Cited
Hitler, Adolf. The Purpose of Propaganda. Some Classical Arguments. Page 537–543.
Lakoff, George. Don’t Think of an Elephant!: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate: The
Essential Guide for Progressives. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 2004. Print.
