Public Opinion & Propaganda PDF

 PUBLIC OPINION & PROPAGANDA FERGUS JOHN TOLEDO & RHIAN LIWANAG  WHAT IS PUBLIC In political science, the OPINION? study of public opinion is focused on the analysis of interaction between citizens and groups, and between citizens and the states. HISTORY ORIGINS...

 PUBLIC OPINION & PROPAGANDA FERGUS JOHN TOLEDO & RHIAN LIWANAG  WHAT IS PUBLIC In political science, the OPINION? study of public opinion is focused on the analysis of interaction between citizens and groups, and between citizens and the states. HISTORY ORIGINS OF PUBLIC OPINION The origin of the term "public opinion" may be traced to ancient times —Roman Empire —golden ages of Greece —Middle Ages ROMAN EMPIRE —Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. -Born: April 26, 121 AD, Rome, Italy -Died: March 17, 180 AD (age 58 years), Sirmium  He emphasized the importance of focusing on one's own values and inner virtue rather than being swayed by the judgments of others. In his "Meditations," he often reflected on the transient nature of fame and how external validation can distract from true self- improvement. He believed that a wise person would prioritize living according to reason and virtue over seeking approval from the crowd. Aurelius encouraged individuals to cultivate inner peace and resilience, highlighting that public opinion  In the Greek city -state of Athens where ancient democracy was born, the citizens assembled in open session to discuss freely the burning issues of the day. They took part in town-meeting discussions on such important public policy issues as taxation, treaty negotiations and problems of war and peace. This direct popular participation of the Greek citizens in the sharing of political power with government and in the formulation and criticism of public policy THE MEANING OF PUBLIC OPINION Floyd Allport- defined public opinion in terms of " a multi- individual situation in which individuals are expressing themselves as favoring or opposing some definite condition, person, or proposal of widespread importance, in such a proportion of number, intensity, and constancy, as to give rise to the THE MEANING OF PUBLIC OPINION Others believe that individuals express their views and behave in an environment in which time and place are important variables. They claim that what is said about oil energy in the Philippines today may vary from what is said about it in other  They conclude that public opinion "is the judgment, attitude and belief of a group of people at a particular time and place." Public Opinion is the expression of attitudes of a certain group of people on a public issue. Editorials and commentaries belong to this group. Public opinion refers to the collective individual opinions of  Lawson's definition of public opinion is an aggregate of the individual opinions on any issue, but found on examination to be varied and conflicting, "held with different degrees of intensity by persons with very different degrees of access to political decision-making processes." Public- generally believed to be a part of society, so that there are many types of publics. Ex. Group of people, civic club, students in a classroom, business organization, labor union Publics may also described in terms of geographical divisions such as the people of a town, city, country, province, state, or nation. A public, according to sociologists, is a group of people confronted by an issue, who are divided in opinion about the issue, and they discuss it to express their views to form public opinion. In the political dynamics, a public is a group of people with common interests that makes itself felt in some stages of the  William Albig - public opinion is "the expression of all the members of a group who are giving attention in any way to a given issue." David Truman- public opinion consists of the opinions of a group of persons making up the public on the given issue under 3 KEY ASPECTS OF PUBLIC OPINION 1. It involves a group of people, not just one individual, expressing views on a public issue.  2. Opinions must be communicated, as unexpressed attitudes do not form public opinion. Secret attitudes, like silent dislike of a ruler, don’t count unless shared  3. Public opinion forms around issues of public interest, not private matters. When these issues involve government, they become political, focusing on policies, candidates, and parties.  THE METHODS OF MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION Public opinion may be considered as playing a determining role in a democracy. James Bryce- democracy should be based on public opinion. A great achievement of public opinion in the realm of polities in a democracy is the translation of consensus or decision of a given public into public policy, or the effective criticism of the policy of the government. If public opinion has a great influence on the political process of a democratic state, it is important that it be measured or ascertained. 1. PUBLIC OPINION IS MEASURED THROUGH THE BALLOT. one of the traditional ways in which public opinion is measured through elections. The true measure of public opinion during elections is the exercise of the freedom of suffrage by the voters. Freedom of suffrage- means that the voters are free to follow their own will to select their public officers in spite of many dangers, threats and pressures that may influence  2. Public Opinion is Measured Through Interest or Pressure Groups. -it has been shown in the preceding chapter that interest or pressure groups influence the formulation and execution of public policy for promoting the welfare of their members. They communicate their views to public officials in some stages in the formulation of public policy, through a variety of methods - through letters andtelegrams, through testimony before committees in the legislature, through personal contact with public officers, and through lobbyists. The pressure group is one of the "models of political linkage" by which government  3. PUBLIC OPINION IS MEASURED THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACT WITH THE CITIZENS. From time to time, the national leadership goes to people to sound out their views on certain aspects of the government's program. This method of direct contact with the citizens provides the leadership a wide range of people's opinion including their problems which would guide it to find effective ways of implementing government projects for the development and welfare of the 4. PUBLIC OPINION IS MEASURED THROUGH REFERENDUM, OR THE PLEBISCITE. - The referendum in many democratic countries is an institution of direct democracy used to ratify constitutional amendments and to prevent bad laws from being implemented. In the Philippines, however, both referendum and plebiscite are potent instruments of measuring the political opinions of the citizens on proposed policies and amendments to the Constitution respectively.  5. PUBLIC OPINION IS MEASURED THROUGH OPINION POLLS. -In the face of changing conditions great strides have been made to form public opinion through scientific polling devices. In the United States, for example, the measurement of public opinion by opinion polls started with the "straw votes" technique. It was a system where large numbers of persons became respondents to a mass polling. Newspapers, joined by magazines like the Literary Digest, the Farm Journal and the Pathfinder,  THE METHODS OF MEASURING PUBLIC Statistical research began OPINION to develop together with the principles of psychology and sociology which helped make a measuring instrument for the study of public opinion. The system required pollster to have a cross-section of the population, that is, selecting carefully a "random sample" of the population. Random sampling- means the polling of a remarkably small but chosen group of people reflective of the cross-section of the population which takes into consideration such variables as  In the United States, the random technique of measuring public opinion is characterized by two primary sampling procedures: 1. Area sampling - The area sampling method requires the selection of individuals for interview from carefully chosen areas. These areas would include states, regions, cities of various sizes, and the proper proportion of rural to urban dwellers. This tested sampling procedure brought out certain administrative problems upon the planning and execution of this method, and  2. Quota Sampling- an alternative method of random sampling or "quota control" method where a given number of persons are designated to be interviewed in certain strata, such as economic or social status, age, sex, and community size, but the selection of particular respondents is left to the judgment of the interviewer. This is also called stratified sampling. There are also two other general methods of Purposive sampling- combines interview or questioning to a certain specific group or element in the community, as when lawyers and teachers are asked whom they support for President. These method of sampling give valid results only if data on the population can be made available and accurate as possible. Big names has been associated with public opinion polls in the United States and among them were: Paul T. Cherrington, Elmo Roper, Archibal M. Crossley, and Dr. George Gallup. Each of them organized their own poll organizations and conducted their polls in forecasting presidential elections as early as 1936. They were remarkably successful in predicting the outcome of the 1940 and 1944 presidential elections. However they are all failed to predict the  In the United States today, various opinion organizations had undertaken opinion surveys on the political strengths of reelectionist President George Bush of the Republican Party and Democratic Party candidate, Senator Bill Clinton. Both were presidential contenders in the November 10, 1992 presidential elections. Survey results of most opinion poll organizations showed Bill Clinton was on lead Such results were borne by the outcome of the elections in which Clinton won over Bush. Likewise, in the Philippines, opinion surveys conducted by social weather stations and poll organizations for the May 11, 1992 general elections showed Miriam Defensor- Santiago and Fidel V. Ramos at the top of the list of  Dr. George Gallup, from the viewpoint of political philosophy, defended public opinion polls as follows: 1.There are no indications that pollster will dominate legislators in their role of formulating and determining public policy 2.Polls uncover areas of ignorance in the electorate 3.Polls serve as check to the power and influence of pressure groups 4.Polls assist administrative departments in making decisions 5.Polls speed up the processes of democracy with reports on public opinion  Criticism directed at public opinion polls as follows: 1. Public opinion polls represent an unwise attempt to move toward direct democracy when in the complexities of modern government it is required that solution of complex issues needs the flexibility of a representative democracy. 2. The public, it is believed, has no opinion, and polling merely extracts from the respondent a meaningless answer of "yes", or he is ignorant 3. Polls reduce the power of the legislature in its role of policymaking. 4. Polls always create a "bandwagon" effect, and since the attitude  5. Scientific polling does not offer always an accurate gauge of the intensity of opinion, in as much as there is a danger that at the moment a person is polled concerning a political issue, he may not feel very strongly about it, or has not made up his opinion about it. His mind about a political candidate may change on election day. Despite this criticisms against public opinion polling, poll organizations have made constant progress in improving their polling instruments to predict elections results and also to measure opinion on political issues that confront the lawmaking body, the executive and other government agencies between  Dr. George Gallup puts it succinctlly in defense of public opinion polls: "To the extent that a political leader does take public opinion into account in making his decisions, he should have an accurate and objective measure of that opinion rather than mere guess work. What polls endeavor to supply is a more systematic and more  PUBLIC OPINION IN A There canDICTATORSHIP hardly be a free public opinion in countries which have dictatorships or totalitarian governments. People have no participation in the shaping of public policy through elections and free discussion, since policy formulation is the monopoly of a self- appointed elite in dictatorship. If participation is ever extended to the people in the "political process," it is only a ritual to chose candidates for public office from among members of the single party  "Public Opinion" in the dictatorship is manufactured by the government's propaganda machine which utilizes all communications media, like the newspapers, radio, motion pictures television, etc. to make it appear that this so-called public opinion came from the people. Criticism public policy is taboo in a totalitarian society, and opposition to the dictatorship means prison, slave labor camp, or death.  The decision-making power of the dictatorship is located in a select group of the party, like the Cabinet of Hitler's National Socialist Party, the Fascist Grand Council of Mussolini's Fascist Party, and the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party. As always, it is the leader dictator who is the head of this elite group. DRESDEN FIRESTORM  CITY OF DRESDEN -CAPITAL OF SAXONY - FLORENCE OF ELBE -It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth largest by area, and the third most populous city in the area of former East Germany, after Berlin and Leipzig THE MORNING OF THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY 1945 THE EASTERN GERMAN CITY OF DRESDEN LIES IN RUINS On the night of February 13, hundreds of RAF bombers descended on Dresden in two waves, dropping their lethal cargo indiscriminately over the city. The city’s air defenses were so weak that only six Lancaster bombers were shot down. By the morning, some 800 British bombers had dropped more than 1,400 tons of high-explosive bombs and more than 1,100 tons of incendiaries on Dresden, creating a great firestorm that destroyed most of the city and killed numerous civilians. Later that day, as survivors made their way out of the smoldering city, more than 300 U.S. bombers began bombing Dresden’s railways, bridges and transportation facilities, killing thousands more. On February 15, another 200 U.S. bombers continued their assault on the city’s infrastructure. All told, the bombers of the U.S. Eighth Air Force dropped more than 950 tons of high-explosive bombs and more than 290 tons of incendiaries on  DRESDEN WAS A CITY OF CULTURE AND NO MILITARY VALUE. ALLEGEDLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED. NO MILITYARY MARSHALL YARDS AND MILITARY FACTORY. THE PEOPLE IN DREDEN BELIEVED THAT NOBODY WILL WANT TO BOMB THE CITY BECAUSE ITS SO BEAUTIFUL AND RICH IN HISTORY. THE NEXT DAY, THE ALLIED PRESS TRUMPET THE SUCCESS OF THE AIR RAID “DRESDEN IS NO LONGER THERE” AN UNKOWN SOURCE INSIDE GERMANY FEEDS SHOCKING PICTURES TO THE PRESS AND PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED LEVEL OF CIVILIAN SUFFERING AND DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY WAS REVEALED.  JOSEPH GOEBBELS The man behind Hitler. Goebbels was born into a strict Catholic, working-class family in Rheydt, Germany, in 1897. As a child he had polio, which left him with a deformed foot and one leg two inches shorter than the other. This caused him to be rejected for military service during World War I. Instead he earned a Ph.D. in history and literature from the University of Heidelberg, and began working as a journalist. When Hitler ascended to power in 1933, Goebbels took over the Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, which controlled radio, press, publishing, cinema and the other arts. GOEBBELS LEAKS HORRIFIC PHOTOS OF THE CITY AND EYE- WITNESS TESTIMONY THROUGH THE NEUTRAL PRESS IN SWEDEN AND SWITZERLAND. NEARLY 200,000 CIVILIANS OF THE DRESDEN RAID HAVE BEEN KILLED IT WAS USEFUL TO JOE TO INTERPRET THIS AS A TERROR ATTACK, IN HIS ATTEMPT TO WIN WOLRD PUBLIC OPINON. TO RALLY THE GERMAN PEOPLE AND SHOCK THE REST OF THE WOLRD IT WAS SEENED AS ALLIED CRUELTY AFTER THE BOMBING DRESDEN WAS STILL BURNING FOR 2 DAYS STRAIGHT THE FACTORIES OF MILITARY PURPOSES WAS STILL FUNCITIONAL OR NOT DESTROYED THE NEWS OF INDISCRIMINATE TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IN DRESDEN SOON REACHES THE ALLIED JOURNALISTS TERROR BOMBING GOEBELLS’ MASTER PLAN STARTED TO PLAY OUT AND IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT GOEBBELS LIED HE EXAGGERATED THE DEATH TOLL THE REAL DEATH TOLL WAS 25,000 PROPAGANDA FERGUS JOHN TOLEDO & RHIAN LIWANAG THE MEANING OF PROPAGANDA The term propaganda was derived from the name of one of the units of the Catholic Church - the Sacra Congregatio Christiano nomini propaganda (the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith). Created in 17th century, about 1650, for the purpose of educating the priest, so that in turn they were charged with the responsibility of propagating the Catholic faith throughout the world.  The term Propaganda is essentially a technique that manipulates the behavior and influences the opinions of a number of individuals by the use of words, persons, objects, pictures, music stereotypes, etc. This technique involves a process, and according to Rodee, Anderson and Christol the process consists of three factors: the propagandist and his message, the technique and media used, and the subjects exposed to the influence. Rodee et al. defined propaganda as "the propagation of ideas through promotion, persuasion, and the  Factors that Affect the Technique and Content of Propaganda 1. The Status of the Propagandist -is an important element in the propaganda process. Factors like numbers, financial resources, internal integration and control, good will and prestige and access to channels of communication are important to affect status. 2. The Propagandist's Situation or Environment -one of the big problems of the propagandist is how to control the situation or environment under which he works.  3. The Propagandist's Plan of Attack -The third aspect of the technique and content of propaganda refers to selecting goals, planning the campaign tactics or strategies, and considering certain specific techniques which will attain the objectives of propaganda and will give the propagandist greater rewards. -The propagandist's goals are to condition the attitudes and influence the opinions of individuals or groups who are the subjects of propaganda. In other words, these people should be convinced to approve and support the propagandist's motives may be to buy the product of his company, or vote for his  Propaganda Strategy involves: 1. Creating a socially acceptable image of the group in the public mind 2. Explaining the group's behavior to the public's satisfaction 3. Drawing an uncomplimentary verbal picture of one's competitors 4. Sitting in constant judgment on the behavior of competing groups Interest or pressure groups also utilize propaganda for  THE TECHNIQUES OF The myriad organization PROPAGANDA in a modern society exist for the protection and advancement of the interests of their members. To do this they function to influence public opinion. They continuously spread propaganda by using all available communication and the techniques of influence and persuasion to those in influential positions and upon the public. The basic propaganda techniques used by these organizations or by political interest groups are not unique, but are familiar and pretty-well understood. They are even shared with other elements in  First, identification with emotionally charged symbols or words. Symbols or words play a very important role in the art of propaganda. A picture, a sign, a statue, a flag or banner, or things that represent ideas and meanings may become effective tools of persuasion if the propagandist can get his listeners or readers to accept his idea or suggestion. Words may also be used as symbols. "Filipinism"  Second, the use of distortion by selection. Under this technique the propagandist may have his materials based on facts. But he selects only those facts that are useful in presenting the idea that he wants to project. A part of this method is slanting or exaggeration of the facts to emphasize only one view of the problem or idea that the propagandist wants to convey to his subjects. Third, the practice of distraction. This technique is a potential weapon of the propagandist as it distracts attention of the subjects of propaganda from the facts. It is what propaganda experts call a "red herring" that stands across the path of factual information to give an individual or a group of people an erroneous impression.  Fourth, is the use of rumor. This propaganda device may be considered as one of the most effective techniques that the propagandist may utilize especially within a particular group in the "rumor public," which is composed of individuals of the same interests and who have common concern with the subject matter of the rumor. Rodee, Anderson, and Christol quoted Allport and Postman as saying that a rumor has three characteristics: 1. It is a proposition offered for belief 2. It is usually conveyed orally from person 3. It lacks substantiating evidence, and, therefore, a hearsay.  Finally, another propaganda tactic is the use of the big lie. This technique was practiced fervently by Hitler during the second World War. He believed that the message of the propagandist becomes consistent if repeated. He made use of timing to avoid detection of inconsistencies. The Allied forces ignored Hitler's art of propaganda believing that the big lie was bound to be discovered. According to the Institute of Propaganda Analysis of the United States, there are other techniques more commonly used in propaganda warfare. These are: bandwagon,  Bandwagon is a propaganda technique of convincing the subjects of propaganda to join the majority of people who have accepted the viewpoint or product proposed by the propagandist. Name calling - involves the use of a label intended for a person or program which would cause rejection by the public of that person or program. The label may inspire fear, hatred, or prejudice because of its bad or disagreeable meaning. The  The glittering generality- is a technique that appeals to the emotions of love, sympathy, esteem, and brotherhood; and by employing such virtue-words as charity, common good, truth, liberty, etc. The propagandist may succeed to have his listeners or subjects accept his proposal or program. Testimonial is a measure by which a well-known person or celebrity endorsers to the public a political candidate, a program, a new product or idea which the public may accept. Transfer- is another technique of propaganda that carries the prestige and authority or respectably of a person, program, or  Plain folks - is a technique utilized by a politician or leader that would make himself appear to the common people as possessing their common habits and characteristics. President Ramon Magsaysay adopted this propaganda tactic for his own benefit. Card Stacking is a device used to describe the process of selecting evidence in order to win support for a proposition. The propagandist seeks to confuse those searching for facts which he intentionally hides by distortion, falsehood, or omission. He resorts to Limitations of Propaganda -Propaganda in essence "play upon weaknesses of man's critical faculties: upon his suggestibility, and of course upon his prejudices and passions." In the present century, propaganda is more used to present a one-sided view and to subvert the truth giving the term unsavory connotations. Because most propaganda efforts are directed towards this end, it is important to know certain limitations of propaganda.  Another limitation is when citizens are possessed with alert and inquiring minds in which case the propagandist finds it difficult to penetrate. And finally, Laswell and Kaplan said that propaganda is ineffective to existing predisposition. No amount propaganda ACTIVITY: ESSAY  1. If public opinion is the 'voice of the people, how much of that voice is actually their own, and how much is the echo of a well-placed propaganda campaign? 2. Is shaping public opinion through propaganda an art or a science, and which one is more dangerous when it comes to democracy?