Throughout the history of humanity, making the enemy look like a monster has been the most prevalent propaganda technique used by every faction, creed, race, religion, nationality and ethnicity against their foes. This way, you get people on your side and don’t have to fight alone. Also, you can demoralise the enemy as well.
Teenagers in high schools are very apt at demonising their classmates, against whom they hold loathsome feelings. Spreading rumours is a very effective technique which is used at this point. Bullying has taken even darker turns with the advent of technology because secrets are a very rare privilege to have these days. Everything you put on the internet is open to discussion and can be used against you. Anyone with malleable intentions can wreck your reputation and smear your worst moments everywhere.
The attitudes and practices in the high school years also translate into the adult lives of people and some of those go on to become statesmen and hold parliamentary positions. With greater power comes greater evil. This is very true when it comes to political campaigners and public orators. Their success depends upon how much of a Satan their opponents are. As more people hate your opponents, they have fewer options to choose from and if you carefully cultivate an image of slightly better than your opponents, people will have to vote for you, put you in public offices and grant power over their lives.
All countries twist and mould their history into something easily digestible and it is always irrefutable, well at least they try to make it so.
Corrupting history is objectively important for military gains for every army around the world because it gives rise to the mob mentality where everyone put on a brave mask and forces their nostrils to flare in rage rather than letting them shiver in fear. After all, the enemy is clearly a monster and what would happen if you don’t kill the monster before it has its hands around your neck?
The earlier way of demonising the enemy was to personify the evil into one single person.
Like Russians portrayed Wilhelm the 2nd of Germany as the villain and through that, they boiled their soldiers’ blood so they would fight with enthusiasm against the Germans in the First World War. As the Ukraine-Russian war started, we saw the new feature demonising propaganda of the media in recent times which relies on propagating the whole Russian Society as savages instead of just calling out Vladimir Putin and his cronies. There is a sense of totality in the abhorrence against the Russians.
One of the things which bother me regarding politics is that when a Party comes to power in a country, they don’t just stop demonising the opposition and focus on delivering their promises to the public. The propaganda work just goes on. Between Propaganda and Competence, they always choose the former because first of all, showing competence and doing justice with a job is hard for a politician. On the other hand, smear campaigns are even easier to pull off when you are in Power, thanks to the vast amounts of public funds at their disposal. The other reason for choosing demonising their opponent over showing competence is that it is a perfect excuse for the next election. It’s so rudimentary to just blame the opposition for your failures and this is hardwired into the Politicians’ genetic code.
The myth of evil is a common tool used to dehumanise the enemy in times of conflict or war. This myth is often propagated through state-funded and backed Tv Channels and Newspapers, and it can serve several purposes.
To avoid any uproar and resistance from the inside, States often mythicise the enemy as undeserving of even basic human rights so that violence and brutality can be used against them.
Additionally, the myth of evil can help to rally support for a particular cause or conflict, as it simplifies the issues at hand and creates a clear sense of "us vs. them." This can be particularly effective in situations where the conflict is complex or difficult to understand.
However, it is important to recognize the dangers of this myth, as it can lead to further violence and suffering, and can prevent meaningful dialogue or reconciliation between opposing sides. It is important to view all individuals and groups as complex, multi-faceted beings, and to seek to understand their motivations and perspectives, even in times of conflict.
There have been many instances throughout history where myths have been created or propagated to justify violence against enemies. One of the most famous examples is the Nazi propaganda machine during World War II.
The Nazis portrayed the Jewish people as a monstrous, evil force that threatened the purity and superiority of the Aryan race. This myth was used to justify the persecution and ultimately the genocide of millions of Jewish people, as well as other targeted groups such as Roma, homosexuals, and disabled individuals.
The Nazis also used propaganda to dehumanise their enemies, such as the Allied forces, portraying them as barbaric and inferior. This created a sense of nationalism and unity among Germans and helped to justify the atrocities committed during the war.
Other examples of the use of myths to justify violence against enemies include the Spanish Conquistadors' portrayal of the indigenous peoples of the Americas as savage and barbaric, and the Hutu propaganda against the Tutsi during the Rwandan genocide.
The Crusades: During the Crusades, Christian leaders portrayed Muslims as barbaric, bloodthirsty heathens who threatened Christendom. This myth was used to justify the killing of Muslim soldiers and civilians alike and led to centuries of conflict between the two groups.
The Cold War: During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union created myths about each other to justify their actions and policies. The U.S. government portrayed the Soviet Union as an evil empire intent on world domination, while the Soviet Union portrayed the United States as a capitalist oppressor that sought to subjugate other nations. These myths helped to fuel the arms race and proxy wars that characterised the Cold War era.
The War on Terror: In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the U.S. government created a myth of a monolithic, fanatical terrorist network that threatened the safety and security of the entire world. This myth was used to justify the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the use of torture and other extreme measures against suspected terrorists.
The Armenian Genocide: During World War I, the Ottoman Empire created a myth that the Armenian people were traitors and terrorists who posed a threat to the security of the empire. This myth was used to justify the mass deportation and killing of over a million Armenians, as well as other minority groups.
The Rwandan Genocide: During the Rwandan Genocide, the Hutu government and media created a myth that the Tutsi minority were foreign invaders and traitors who threatened the security and stability of the country. This myth was used to justify the killing of over 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu civilians.
The Gulf War: During the Gulf War, the U.S. government created a myth that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq posed an immediate threat to the security of the United States and its allies. This myth was used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 1991, as well as subsequent military actions in the region.
These examples demonstrate how myths can be used to dehumanise and demonise entire groups of people, and how these myths can be used to justify acts of violence and oppression. It is important to critically examine the narratives that are used to justify such actions and to work towards greater understanding and empathy for all people.
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