Whether one likes it or not, propaganda has become a great force in the modern world. Good or bad, every modern State, whether a dictatorship or a democracy, is actively carrying on propaganda campaigns both within its territories and outside against other States, especially against those which it regards as its present or prospective enemies. Propaganda has indeed, become a very powerful political weapon. It has great effect on public mind. It works slowly, but if persisted in and repeated enough, it invariably succeeds in attaining the objects that it sets to itself, the causes of its success are several.
Firstly, every individual is intellectually deficient in one way or another: he cannot think rationally about all things. The propagandist offers him ready-made answers or solutions to many about which he knows nothing or understands little: either he has no knowledge and experience or interest in it or it is very complicated. Secondly, every person has bodily limitations that he cannot be everywhere and thus have first-hand information about every event or fact. He has, therefore, necessarily to depend upon others to supply information about it.
But others may not be interested in providing him with true facts of the case due to their own party, class or political interests and considerations. Yet, in spite of him mental, intellectual or physical limitations, every individual is eager to know something about everything, especially about an event or occurrence. The propagandist has, in such circumstances, a great scope for plying his trade. So great is the effect and influence of propaganda that it has now become a great force in maintaining the unity, strength and stability of the modern State. Hence propaganda ministries and publicity or public relations departments have become essential parts of the present-day governmental structure. It must, however, be said that propaganda is not necessarily or always an evil. We may use it to disperse many false notions.
It is a very good method of educating the ‘people. In any case, the fact is that it is ultimately the good and the truthful that ultimately wins. You can befool all the people’ for some time, or befool some people all the time, but you cannot befool all the people all the time. In the along run, victory lies with truth, i.e., truthful propaganda only.