Continuity amidst change: propaganda in China 1959-1989

Abstract

During the 20th century, propaganda as a state apparatus saw increasing importance and utilization as new mediums of information such as coloured films came into being alongside traditional mass media such as newspapers, enabling greater speed and wider reach for disseminating information. With more means at their disposal, states employed propaganda to varying degrees, regardless of their political positions and this only increased during the Cold War as war was fought increasingly on the ideological front rather than on the battlefield. For all intents and purposes, propaganda was a tool for states to bring their intended messages to their publics while at the same time galvanizing them towards actions desired by the state, be it for economic, political or wartime purposes. For the purposes of this thesis, the propaganda of the People’s Republic of China will be the subject of discussion as they are one of the more important players in the 20th century that had experienced a significant period of change in its history that would carry into the modern world. The period studied will be from 1959 to 1989, so that the changes and continuities can be observed over time.