role of propaganda and force in authoritarian states

• • Propaganda is not merely information; it’s often biased, misleading, or manipulated information purposefully spread to advance a specific political cause or perspective.
• • State-Owned Media: By having firm control over media outlets—be it print, radio, or television—authoritarian states ensured that only their version of events reached the masses.
• • Rewriting History: Some regimes went as far as revising history books, highlighting their achievements and erasing or altering past transgressions or controversies.
• • Branding the Nation: Regimes often selected or created symbols that they felt embodied national identity or ideology. These could be animals, flags, or emblems.
• • Portraying Unity: These symbols were propagated as a representation of national unity, often contrasting with the 'chaos' of previous or competing political orders.
• • Mythmaking: Leaders of authoritarian states were often portrayed not just as politicians but as legendary heroes or even semi-divine figures. Tales of their bravery, wisdom, and love for the nation were ubiquitous.
• • Pervasive Presence: Portraits of the leader might be displayed in every home, institution, and public space. Songs praising their virtues could be part of school curriculums and public events.
• • Curriculum Control: The state's version of history, its achievements, and its ideology were incorporated into the school syllabus, shaping the worldview of the younger generation.
• • Youth Organisations: Many authoritarian states had youth groups or organisations designed to indoctrinate children from an early age in state ideology.
• • Selective Reporting: State-controlled media often showcased economic successes, technological achievements, and cultural events that portrayed the country in a positive light.
• • Censorship and Suppression: Foreign media, or any media source that contradicted the official narrative, faced suppression. Journalists who didn’t toe the line could face intimidation, arrest, or worse.
• • Purging Dissent: Authoritarian leaders often purged the ranks of the military, removing officers or soldiers viewed as potentially disloyal.
• • Reaping Rewards: Loyal military officials were often rewarded with promotions, privileges, or other benefits, ensuring their continued allegiance.
• • Extensive Surveillance: Authoritarian regimes often expanded the surveillance capabilities of police, monitoring phone lines, mail, and, in modern times, internet communications.
• • Databases and Profiling: Detailed profiles of citizens, especially those deemed 'problematic', were maintained. This could include political activists, journalists, or anyone suspected of anti-state activities.
• • Prisons and Detention Centres: Many authoritarian states expanded their prison systems, building special detention centres for political prisoners. Conditions in these places were often harsh, with inmates subjected to physical and psychological torture.
• • Extrajudicial Punishments: In extreme cases, individuals could be 'disappeared', executed, or sent to labour camps without trial.
• • Brownshirts and Blackshirts: Drawing from historical examples, groups like the SA in Nazi Germany or the Blackshirts in Fascist Italy served as party militias, intimidating opposition and enforcing party rule at the street level.
• • Rapid Response: These militias often acted swiftly against perceived threats, using street-level violence to break up protests, intimidate voters, or target specific communities.
• Political Violence: The use of violence by state authorities was not uncommon during this period, particularly when it came to dealing with dissenters or opponents of the regime.