Not a Conspiracy Theory; How Business Propaganda Hijacks Democracy

by Donald Gutstein

• ISBN13: 9781554701919
• ISBN10: 1554701910
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2009-11-24
• Publisher: Key Porter Books

Summary

North Americans have expressed themselves loud and clear on a wide range of issues--like the need for expanded and affordable health care-but it often feels like the politicians in power aren't really listening. The truth is, maybe they aren't. In Not a Conspiracy Theory, Donald Gutstein skillfully documents one of the most important but least recognized political developments in the last thirty years: the prolonged propaganda campaigns mounted by business to change our minds on fundamental issues of social life. He explores such topics as the Propaganda Century; American Roots: The Rise of the Corporate Propaganda System; The Propoganda Machine in Action: The '90s and Beyond; Delaying Action on Climate Change: Killing Medicare ... to save it? and, Targeting Corporate Propaganda's Vulnerabilities. For anyone who worries that the propaganda machine might hijack the democractic process, Not a Conspiracy Theory is a must read. ENDORSEMENTS/PRAISE Vancouver Ltd. (1975) "Capitalism means making capital out of anything and everything. This little refresher course should get you in the mood for Vancouver Ltd., a nasty little book that tells it like it is.... The results of Gutstein's labours are couched in a tough, let-the-blue-chips-fall-where-they-may stuyle, and he leaves no doubt about his message: the city is being run by and for the developers and the interlocked directorates. The people have little, if any, chance.... Gutstein has done his homework, and has unearthed some very smelly deals.....Should be required reading for any interested citizen." -The Province The New Landlords (1990) "Possibly because it was published by one of the smaller presses, this essential study of Asian investment in Canadian real estate hasn't received the attention it deserves. In an evenhanded and well-written assessment of the impact of East Asian wealth on this country, Gutstein documents the startling case that without our becoming aware of it, we have become squatters in our own land. This is unfortunate. But don't blame the Oriental investor. They only did what we invited them to do." --Peter C. Newman, Business Watch "Best Business Books of the Year" Roundup

Author Biography

Donald Gutstein taught in the school of communication at Simon Fraser University and is the author of three acclaimed but controversial books: e.con: How the Internet Undermines Democracy, The New Landlords, and Vancouver Ltd. He has studied the media for more than thirty years, was co-director of Project Censored and NewsWatch Canada, and has written articles for print and online magazines such as Maclean's, Vancouver Magazine, The Tyee, The Georgia Straight, and Straight Goods.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 9
Integration... Even Though We Don't Want It	p. 13
Analyzing the Deep-Integration Campaign	p. 48
The Propaganda Century	p. 55
American Roots: the Rise of the Corporate Propaganda System	p. 86
Building the Infrastructure: the 1970s and 1980s	p. 118
The Propaganda Machine in Action: the 1990s and Beyond	p. 150
Gateway to the Public Mind	p. 190
Delaying Action on Climate Change	p. 227
Killing Medicare... To Save It?	p. 260
Targeting Corporate Propaganda's Vulnerabilities	p. 292
Endnotes	p. 322
Bibliography	p. 356
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