Weapons of Mass Persuasion

Abstract

The concept of a public body deluded into believing whatever its leaders assert as truth might seem to recall Marxist theories of media and society. But this is an element of the reality painted by Paul Rutherford in his Weapons of Mass Persuasion: Marketing the War against Iraq, in which he examines Washington’s promotion of the war and its effectiveness in winning public support despite misinformation. Public opinion has been key to maintaining support for the war and the tremendous amount of money that it continues to pull out of the American economy. Rutherford investigates the marketing strategy, illustrates its effects, and explores the significance of the experiment. His analysis provides an insightful look into how Washington was able to convince the American people of the false threat of “weapons of mass destruction” and raises important questions about what the Bush administration’s “persuasion” experiment means for American democracy. The author dedicates the first three chapters to analyzing how the “weapons of mass persuasion” were deployed. However, the heart of his study lies in the effects of those “weapons” on individuals and society. His research is centered in Canada and draws from its government and press. This makes it difficult to discern who is the focus of his analysis – is it Canadians, Americans, the Middle East, or the world at large? ...