Abuse Quote by Mark Poster
“Terrorism is in good part an effective government propaganda; it serves to deflect attention from governmental abuse toward a mostly imagined, highly dangerous outside enemy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Spectacle of the Other, Mark Poster, 1995
Propaganda uses terrorism to shift public focus from internal abuses to an imagined external threat, simplifying complex issues.
In simple terms: Governments blame outsiders to hide their own faults.
Question narratives that blame external enemies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- journalism
- activism
- policy analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits from the fear narrative?
- What evidence challenges the portrayed enemy?
Overemphasis on external threats can ignore real internal problems.