Digital Age Paradox: Why Modern Propaganda Struggles to Mobilize Masses for War

"From Mass Mobilization to Machines: The Dual Forces Reshaping Modern Conflict"

"Digital Age Paradox: Why Modern Propaganda Struggles to Mobilize Masses for War"

• Explores the collapse of wartime idealism, from WWII’s fervent nationalism to Russia’s prison conscripts and Ukraine's draft evasion.

The Paradox of Propaganda: From Its Birth to Its Digital Decline

Propaganda, as a means of shaping public opinion, has existed for centuries, but its formalization can be traced back to the early modern era. The term itself originates from the Catholic Church's Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith), established in 1622 to spread religious doctrine. Since then, propaganda has evolved into a sophisticated tool wielded by states, corporations, and ideological movements to influence masses.