Definitions HQ

The Propaganda system (n.) doesn't ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠skip a beat: when the Russians left Cuba, the embargo's reason switched overnight from Soviet threat to love of democracy, and nobody noticed.

A Propaganda system (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is well crafted dulls the mental faculties until its targets answer patriotic slogans with the right enthusiasm — life made as simple as a children's tale.

A Propaganda system (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠lets inconvenient facts appear sparingly, inside the proper assumptions, while fundamental dissent survives only in a marginal press, is far more credible and effective than official censorship.

A Propaganda system (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠plain to see where the state owns the press, and hardest to see where the press is private, competitive, and proudly exposes the odd scandal.

Propaganda system (n.) shows ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its power when even those who think they are taking an adversarial stance cannot see their own country's aggression at all.