Narratives Flashcards
E.H.Carr
Political opinion + propaganda matters.
Diff between democracies and authoritarian regimes are not as big as we think: use of propaganda.
Totalitarian regimes have a diff approach: set up a norm and make people live by these norms: pretend their position is the reflect of what the people want.
Anthropological need for meaning
Political leaders use this need for meaning and narrative to legitimate narratives: national security and ambitions.
Why do we need narratives?
We need theory and narratives because narratives give meaning to things otherwise there is no order and we can’t live without order. We organize our lives, experiences through narratives.
R. KREBS - what are the best times for a new narrative?
Crisis: these are times during which people have lost confidence in the power of the narrative to bring meaning to new events.
You had a situation, an existing narrative, it matched, it makes sense.
New narrative in time of crisis?
It’s very hard when we are in times of crisis to put forward a new narrative.
Obama: wanted to implement stuff that didn’t fit in the narrative so he had to go underground.
The narrative framework
If you are outside the framework, they will be marginalized and criticized. Doesn’t mean that your policy, political choice is going to work and not be criticized if its within the framework.
How to know what is a good narrative?
You need at least 5 elements: the act (what is going on); agent (who are the protagonists); agency (how); scene (where and when); purpose (why).
Social media and narratives
Social media is a game changer in our society (≠ traditional media that would usually reproduce the strategies of the head of the state). Now, they use different strategies, from different actors, to fit their public → easier for other states to interfere in another public opinion/ policy.
