Science of Coercion: Psychological Warfare

During the Cold War, a battle raged for control of people’s minds. U.S. military, intelligence and propaganda agencies saw mass communication as an instrument of persuasion and domination. To achieve their goals, they enlisted top professors and universities. The legacy of that relationship between the government and the academy was profound, and it continues today. The academic studies provided an important part of U.S. psychological warfare not just internationally but domestically as well.

Interview by David Barsamian.