The birth of psychological war

• Verfasst von: Whyte, Jeffrey [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: The birth of psychological war
• Titelzusatz: propaganda, espionage, and military violence from WWII to the Vietnam War
• Verf.angabe: Jeffrey Whyte
• Verlagsort: Oxford
• Verlag: Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press
• Jahr: 2023
• Umfang: viii, 230 Seiten
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen
• Gesamttitel/Reihe: British Academy monographs
• Fussnoten: Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 195-228, Register
• Ang. zum Inhalt: 'A new geography of defence'
• Ang. zum Inhalt: Truth, territory, terror
• Ang. zum Inhalt: Covert crusade
• Ang. zum Inhalt: Psywar in Vietnam
• ISBN: 978-0-19-726749-3
• Schlagwörter: (s)Psychologische Kriegführung
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1858110955

Abstract

The Birth of Psychological War explores the history, politics, and geography of United States psychological warfare in the 20th century against the backdrop of the contemporary 'post-truth era'. From its origins in the Second World War, to the United States' counterinsurgency campaigns in Vietnam, Whyte traces how the theory and practice of psychological warfare transformed the relationship between the home front and theatres of war. Whyte interrogates the broader political mythologies that animate popular conceptions of psychological war, such as its claim to make war more humane and less violent. On the contrary, The Birth of Psychological War demonstrates the role of psychological warfare in expanding the scope and scale of military violence amidst ostensible efforts to 'win hearts and minds'. While casting a critical eye on psychological warfare, Whyte establishes its continued significance for the contemporary student of international relations.