1st Edition
Propaganda, the Press and Conflict The Gulf War and Kosovo
An incisive analysis of the use of the press for propaganda purposes during conflicts, using the first Gulf War and the intervention in Kosovo as case studies.
As the contemporary analysis of propaganda during conflict has tended to focus considerably upon visual and instant media coverage, this book redresses the imbalance and contributes to the growing discourse on the role of the press in modern warfare.
Through an innovative comparative analysis of press treatment of the two conflicts it reveals the existence of five consistent propaganda themes: portrayal of the leader figure, portrayal of the enemy, military threat, threat to international stability and technological warfare. As these themes construct a fluid model for the analysis and understanding of propaganda content in the press during conflicts involving British forces, they also provide the background against which the author can discuss general issues regarding propaganda. Amongst the issues which have become increasingly relevant to both recent academic debate and popular culture, the author tackles the role of the journalist in war coverage, the place of the press in a news market dominated by 'instant' visual media and the effectiveness of propaganda in specific cultural and political context.
This book will appeal to advanced students and researchers in war studies, media studies/propaganda and psychology.
Acknowledgements, Introduction, Chapter 1. The Theory of Propaganda, Chapter 2. Newspapers, the Reporter and the Wider Context, Chapter 3. War and the Green Book Chapter 4. Uncensored News, Critical Debate? Chapter 5. The Five Themes of Conflict Propaganda, Chapter 6. Presenting Alternate Opinions, Conclusion, Bibliography, Index
Biography
Having studied History and Government and Politics at undergraduate level at the University of Kent at Canterbury, David Wilcox completed the MA course in Propaganda, Persuasion and History at the same institution. After a year out to work in business I returned to the University of Kent to continue my interest in propaganda at Ph.D level, while in receipt of the Andy MacNab scholarship.
David R. Willcox has recently completed his PhD, which forms the basis for this book, at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
