Review of Propaganda Technique in the World War

Abstract

Reviews the book, Propaganda Technique in the World War by Harold D. Lasswell (1927). The reviewer states that the author of this very stimulating and informative volume has derived much of his material from the German, French, and English publicists and yet he has not neglected the contributions of American war propagandists. To many readers the evaluation of the forms of propaganda organization existent in America, Britain, France and Germany and of the successes achieved now by one or another in their attempts to unify indigenous antagonistic groups to support war aims, to win the support of neutrals, and to demoralize both the civilians and soldiers of the enemy, may seem the most valuable contribution of the book. To others, more interested in the types of appeal which are likely to form and to release behavior patterns conducive to cooperation in military projects, the discussions of the symbols which have significance for diverse groups within a population may be considered most important. According to the reviewer, this short review makes no claim to exhaust the topics covered in the book. It merely emphasized the existence of a volume which contains an excellent account of an important method of social control, one which the student of social behavior cannot afford to neglect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)