This Is Not Propaganda
This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality is a 2019 publication authored by Peter Pomerantsev that explores the spread of disinformation and propaganda in various nations.
Seve Bloomfield from The Guardian characterized the work as "Part memoir, part investigation, part cry for help." The text investigates how digital propaganda shapes public understanding of reality, emphasizing Russian political interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Brexit referendum. It also examines personalities such as Rodrigo Duterte.
Pomerantsev contends that internet propaganda campaigns aim primarily to dismantle objective truth and erode confidence in democratic systems, frequently utilizing an excess of information to manipulate public trust toward authoritarian regimes. The final sections propose methods to enhance journalistic standards and promote fact-based practices online.
The book highlights activists dedicated to combating contemporary propaganda tactics and restoring faith in democracy. Reviewer Scott McLemee observed that this spread of propaganda exemplifies a type of globalization.
Background
According to Pomerantsev, Western adoption of Russian propaganda strategies motivated him to write this book. He asserted that the belief that increased access to information would yield greater truthfulness has been challenged by these emerging propaganda techniques.
External links
- - Faber & Faber (UK)
- - Hachette Book Group (US)