Publication
The Role of Historical Narratives in Extremist Propaganda
In this paper for Defence Strategic Communications, Alastair Reed and Jennifer Dowling seek to show the importance of historical narratives to propaganda by identifying and exploring five ways in which such narratives are exploited to reinforce the extremists' 'competitive system of meaning'.
- Author
- Alastair Reed, Jennifer Dowling
- Date
- 01 April 2018
- Links
- "The Role of Historical Narratives in Extremist Propaganda" available on NATO Strategic Communications website
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the role of historical narratives in extremist propaganda, seeking to show how and why they are used to enhance the impact of such propaganda. To that end we use the concept of the 'competitive system of meaning', which lies at the heart of extremist propaganda and forms their grand overarching narative. Through the use of two constructs, in-group/out-group identity and crisis/solution, propagandists from a cylindrically reinforcing narrative. This paper is exploratory in nature, and is envisaged as the first step in much more detailed research into the role of historical narratives in extremist propaganda. It seeks to show the importance of historical narratives to propaganda by identifying and exploring five ways in which such narratives are exploited to reinforce the extremists' 'competitive system of meaning'.