If propaganda is just the the propagation of ideas whether factual or not, should we cease to use it as a derogatory term for misinformation/disinformation and instead just call it such?
If propaganda is just the the propagation of ideas whether factual or not, should we cease to use it as a derogatory term for misinformation/disinformation and instead just call it such?
Many Communists already understand that propaganda is not in and of itself of a negative meaning, and openly understand that propaganda is a core aspect of their revolutionary tactics.
The Marxist understanding of the base and superstructure already makes this clear. Bourgeois/Capitalist society is already abound with propaganda eveywhere and in every aspect of our lives, from television, the media (particularly when relating to geopolitics), literature, religion, and so on.
Propaganda, like so many other things in society, has a class-based nature. While under Capitalist society, propaganda is used to maintain the socioeconomic and political order of the bourgeoisie oppressing the proletariat, under Socialism, propaganda is turned in favor of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie and its ideologists internally.
Propaganda is a core aspect of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
I understand that, but say there’s a headline or article that is clearly meant to oppose the enemies of the imperialists subtly and partially untruthfully, while claiming objectivity. Would it be wrong to dismiss it by saying “it’s just propaganda?”
Yes. It would be better to say its particularly Capitalist/Imperialist propaganda. There must be a distinction between progressive, revolutionary propaganda (“agitprop”) and reactionary propaganda.