The Debate on Corruption of Public Opinion in Mass Society

Abstract

In the early decades of the 20th century, perceptions on the role of public opinion in political systems underwent a profound change. Where liberal systems saw public opinion mostly as a source of criticism –as the voice of the people keeping an eye on their rulers-, mass politics turned it into an instrument of political pressure ready to be manipulated. This essay focuses on how concerns for the consequences of mass politics led to a reflection on the role of public opinion in democratic regimes, which in turn gave birth to a new field of expertise dedicated to measuring and orienting it at the benefit of the States’ higher interests.

Keywords

• opinión pública
• sociedad de masas
• propaganda
• relaciones públicas
• comunicación política
• periodo de entreguerras.