I’ve just seen the latest piece of propaganda emanating from the Gaza aid flotilla shootings. And I’ve had the lyrics for Anatomy of your Enemy by Anti-Flag floating around for a while. They’re vaguely relevant to the situation, so I’ve re-published them here in a modified form:
First step: create the enemy. Sometimes this will be done for you. Enemies can easily be found sitting on things you want.
Second step: be sure the enemy you have chosen is nothing like you. Find obvious differences like race, language, religion, dietary habits or fashion.
Third step: once these differences are established continue to reinforce them with all disseminated information. Attempt to dehumanise your enemy.
Fourth step: have the media broadcast only the ruling party’s information. Remember, in times of conflict if your government represents the interests of capital all for-profit media will repeat it’s information.
Fifth step: eliminate opposition to the ruling party. Create an “us versus them” mentality. Leave no room for opinions in between. Anyone who does not support all actions of the ruling party should be considered a traitor.
Sixth step: use nationalistic and/or religious symbols and rhetoric to define all actions. Align your actions with the dominant deity and use it to give you legitimacy.
Seventh step: use vague concepts like ‘freedom’ or ‘justice’ to justify your actions. Then present the enemy as opposed to those concepts.
Eighth step: Create and atmosphere of fear, and instability and then offer the ruling party as the only solutions to restore order. Remembering always that the fear of the unknown is always the strongest fear.
That’s a one-way ticket to fascism right there.
Anonymous said on June 8th, 2010 , 9:57 pm
Don’t forget under vague concepts to also use democracy, although it’s not vague it is overused in ways which quite clearly don’t represent the real meaing.