Diskussionsbeiträge der Projektgruppe Friedensforschung Konstanz, Nr. 53, 2004

7 Manipulative propaganda techniques
7.1 Harmonization of referential levels

    Defining properties:
    1Repetition of the same content on different referential levels
    2Circularity of the "proof"

The harmonization of referential levels refers to a specific form of circular argumentation that repeatedly tells the same story on different narrative levels, as for example: concrete descriptions of topical events, interpretations of the conflict context, and descriptions of the mythical or religious dimensions of the conflict.

According to Luostarinen (2002), successful propaganda features a coherent construction with tight links between its different levels. The different levels support each other. Although the harmonization of the referential levels may lead to texts which seemingly, and on the surface, are heterogeneous, they repeat the same themes that have been chosen as the core propaganda message on different narrative levels which seemingly lend proof to each other.

Some examples:

A classical example, described by Luostarinen, is the oft-recurring propaganda motif of the murder of a priest or a nun.

The argument works both ways: The enemy rapes and murders a nun, therefore he is godless. Because the enemy is godless, he rapes and murders nuns.

Another example is the following editorial from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of Dec. 23, 1992:

Again, the argument works both ways: that the Serbs rape Muslim women proves that they lack any moral restraints. Because they lack any moral restraints, they rape Muslim women.

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