In this book, Steven R. Brydon analyzes American war propaganda spanning from the Spanish-American War through the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Brydon argues that many of these wars were fought based on false or misleading narratives, beginning with blaming Spain for the sinking of the Maine and continuing, most recently, with charges that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and was involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11. Research has shown that well-told stories can affect the public’s beliefs, attitudes, and actions, and Brydon has identified some of these recurring stories that have been told to support and sustain each war during this time period. Using Fisher’s narrative paradigm, Brydon critically evaluates these “war stories” to determine if they possessed narrative coherence and fidelity that provided good reasons to go to war, rather than simply the appearance of these qualities. The responsibility, Brydon stresses, is on the media and on academics to view future war narratives through a critical lens, in order to best inform the American people. Scholars of media studies, history, military studies, American studies, and international relations will find this book particularly useful.
Author(s): Steven R. Brydon
Edition: 1
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: TruePDF
Pages: 321
Tags: Propaganda, American: History: 20th Century; Press And Propaganda: United States: History: 20th Century; United States: History, Military: 20th Century; War: Public Opinion
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Note
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Propaganda and Persuasion
Media Effects
Perspectives on Propaganda
Recognizing Propaganda
Summary
Notes
Chapter 2: Narratives of War
Transportation Theory
The Narrative Paradigm
Selecting the Artifacts
Summary
Notes
Chapter 3: The Spanish-American War: A Splendid Little War
Prelude to War
Commodore Dewey Destroys the Spanish Fleet
War Stories from Cuba—The Rough Riders
The Philippines Fall
Cuba: Colony or Protectorate?
Aftermath: Insurgency in the Philippines
Assessing the Narrative
Notes
Chapter 4: World War I: The War to End All Wars
American “Neutrality”
The 1916 Campaign—He Kept Us Out of War
Wilson Prepares the Country for War
War is Declared
War Propaganda/Silencing Dissent
The Legacy of the Great War
Assessing the Narrative
Notes
Chapter 5: World War II: The Survival War
1940 Presidential Campaign
“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”
Official War Information (Propaganda)
The War Correspondent
Popular Movies
Radio
Portraying the Germans
Portraying the Japanese
The War Ends
Assessing the Narrative
Notes
Chapter 6: Korea: The Never-Ending War
The Cold War and Containment
Failure to Assure South Korea’s Security
UN “Police Action”
MacArthur’s Inchon Miracle
Government and Media Propaganda
North to Pyongyang and the Yalu
China Intervenes
Two Narratives Clash: Victory or Limited War?
Truce Talks
Eisenhower Promises to “Go to Korea”
The Armistice—No Peace Treaty
War Crimes and Atrocities
Korea’s Nuclear Threat in the Twenty-first Century
Assessing the Narratives
Notes
Chapter 7: Vietnam: The Domino Theory Falls
Prelude to War
The Torch is Passed
LBJ Takes the Reins
The Gulf of Tonkin Incidents
Escalation
War of Attrition
Prowar Propaganda
Vietnam Becomes a Quagmire
The Tet Offensive
Nixon Promises “Peace with Honor”
War Protests Expand
The Paris Peace Accords
Fall of Saigon
Public Opinion
The Legacy of Vietnam
Assessing the Narratives
Notes
Chapter 8: The Persian Gulf War: Kicking the Vietnam Syndrome
The Cold War Ends: A New World Order Begins
Operation Desert Shield
Saddam as Hitler
The Shield Becomes a Storm
100 Hours of Ground War
Muzzling the Media
The Aftermath
Ending the Vietnam Syndrome
Assessing the Narrative
Notes
Chapter 9: The War on Terror: America’s Forever War
Bush’s 9/11 Narrative
Operation Enduring Freedom
Expanding the War on Terror
Selling the War: The Media Buy Bush’s Story
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Mission Accomplished?
Iraq Becomes a Quagmire
The Freedom Agenda
The Surge in Iraq
Assessing Bush’s Iraq Narrative
Obama Inherits Two Wars
Killing bin Laden
The Rise of ISIS
Assessing Obama’s Narrative
Ending Forever Wars
Are the Forever Wars Really Over?
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 10: Conclusion: Recurring War Stories
Reoccurring War Stories
Assessing the Narratives for War
Notes
Introduction
Index
