I used to think social media was good because thanks to them, governments couldn’t fabricate false narratives. But it turns out that they are still doing it.
I used to think social media was good because thanks to them, governments couldn’t fabricate false narratives. But it turns out that they are still doing it.
does the link not work for you somehow?
EDIT: maybe you’re asking for an easier to understand version and the best i can do is this ai summary:
This dissertation, completed by Benjamin Thomason at Bowling Green State University in 2024, critically examines the role of US “democracy promotion” as a tool of empire, focusing on the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Core Argument: Drawing on a critical Gramscian Marxist perspective, the author argues that the NED and USAID function as “engines of intellectual warfare” in US foreign intervention. They mobilize communications and organizational resources to reinforce elite hegemonic narratives, thereby facilitating neoliberal and neoconservative US foreign policy objectives abroad.
Methodology & Historical Context: The study traces how covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) media and civil society operations during the Cold War evolved into the institutionalized, “pseudo-overt” democracy promotion apparatus that served as a pretext and method for US interventionism after the Cold War.
Case Studies: To support its thesis, the dissertation examines several major US interventions since 1983, including:
Syria Focus: A dedicated chapter analyzes the US-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War from 2011. It details how USAID provided monetary, media, and civil society support to what the author characterizes as primarily sectarian, theocratic, and Salafi rebel groups opposing the Ba’athist government, demonstrating the “moderate rebel industry” and narrative-control infrastructure.