Propaganda can be hard to define, but is broadly defined as the intentional manipulation of public opinion with a specific set of goals, often defined by partial truths, opinion, and a blend of truth with outright falsehood.   These nuances make it challenging for less critical audiences to distinguish propaganda from the free exchange of ideas.  Propaganda is created intentionally with these goals but can also be propagated unknowingly.

Propaganda

Conspiracy theories reject the accepted explanation for harmful or tragic events in favor of an explanation focusing on the actions of a powerful group.  Conspiracy theories are often propagated at times of societal unrest, namely during war, economic depression, natural disaster, and pandemic.  Conspiracy theories are not necessarily created to intentionally manipulate an audience, but are generally lacking in legitimate evidence.  Many include false information or false conclusions.  Much like propaganda, conspiracy theories often mix truth with falsehood, making it harder for less critical audiences to distinguish the two.  


Conspiracy Theories

Disinformation/misinformation is often disseminated through social media by unknowing individuals attempting to act out of altruism, hoping to share important information with their peers.  Social media’s organization as a series of networks also means these ideas can be spread extremely rapidly.  

Dissemination of False Information

False information regarding health issues constitutes a probable threat to public health.  While false health information has always existed, in the case of a highly communicable disease like Covid-19, the stakes have become notably higher, while the quantity of contradictory information being thrown at individuals has made it harder to find and trust accurate information.  Two popular false information topics are on the spread of the disease and "tips" on how to stay healthy, or cast doubt on the functioning of institutions.  The first is harmful in fairly self-explanatory ways, the second is harmful as it undermines public trust in institutional efforts to contain the disease.

Impacts of False Information

- Conspiracy Theories
- Propaganda
- Dissemination of False Information
- Impacts of False Information

University of California, Davis

- Populism
- Partisanship
- Categories of False or Misleading Information
- Free and Fair Elections

Political Science Terminology

The most popular definition of populism defines the political strategy through an economic lens as ‘an approach to economics that emphasizes growth and income redistribution and deemphasizes the risks of inflation and deficit finance, external constraints, and the reaction of economic agents to aggressive nonmarket policies.’  Through a political science lens, populism is a rejection of pluralism and of the traditional political elite.  Populism is generally considered a threat to liberal democracy which was a general trend in many nations in the 20th century.

Populism

In theory, partisanship is synonymous with the selection of a political party that one feels best reflects one’s policy preferences, as a time saving tool to help make decisions on a ballot that will best reflect those policy preferences.  However, notably in American politics, partisanship is increasingly a social identifier in which people choose parties based on largely social cues and then adopting the policy preferences of the party.  This form of partisanship is generally regarded as a negative force in a democracy.

Partisanship

Categories of False or Misleading Information

In order for an election to be considered truly democratic, it must be both free and fair.  There are many criteria to a free and fair election.  The three primary criteria listed by the Inter-Parliamentary Union "Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections" which have fallen under scrutiny in recent months with the progression of Covid-19 are consistent application of election law, polling station accessibility, and non-fraudulent results.

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