A Conceptual Underpinning of Lobbying and Propaganda as Policy Influencing Tools for Peace and Conflict

Abstract

The research explores the conceptual grounding of lobbying and propaganda, both distinctively and complimentarily. Propaganda and lobbying are not novel terms for ‘International Relations and Political Sciences’ students, researchers and experts. These terms have often been used to validate the influence one actor has on other states by disseminating information: both true and false. The intended end product of these influences is to affect polices and decision-making processes in one’s own favor or against the conflicting actor. Over the years, during both World Wars and the Cold War, propaganda has remained a major policy tool employed in winning wars or demoralizing the opponents. To that extent, it is also termed ‘soft power’. Despite the use of several tools and techniques in the art of spreading propaganda, mass media has contemporaneously been employed as a vital technique to reach the masses and influence decision makers. Since propaganda campaigns are initiated and organized by authorities or governments to influence the political, social or economic settings of opponents. For that matter, propaganda is also considered as a field or strategy to do successful lobbying.