A Study on the Role of the Media and Its Effect on the Identity of Muslims (Part 23)
History of Psychological Warfare
In the previous parts, the definitions of propaganda and psychological warfare were discussed. In this part, we will take a brief look at the history of psychological warfare.
The history of psychological warfare is essentially the history of human life; however, it has not always been recognized and highlighted under this title. Like other concepts, it has undergone transformation in the context of history and has evolved along with the requirements of time and place. Today, its complexity has been further increased by the use of technology.
“Paul Leinberg” traces the history of psychological warfare back to 1245 BC, when a general named “Gideon” employed psychological warfare techniques in the battle against the Medians to make his 3,000-strong army appear as a 30,000-strong force in the minds of the enemy by giving a torch to each soldier. Another famous case of psychological warfare is the Trojan War, where the Greek general “Agamemnon” used the famous wooden horse to conquer the city of Troy.
Historically, psychological warfare can be divided into three periods:
1. Psychological warfare in ancient times
2. Psychological warfare in the Middle Ages
3. Psychological warfare in the modern era
The most interesting historical examples of psychological warfare can be found in the early wars of Islam. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was always adept at employing effective methods of psychological warfare aimed at strengthening the morale of Muslim fighters and weakening the morale of their enemies. He would recite uplifting and empowering verses from the Holy Qur’an when he sensed weakness among his companions, encouraging them to defend their faith with bravery and courage in times of need.
Many verses in the Holy Qur’an relate to the early wars of Islam during the era of the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Some of these verses respond to the psychological warfare tactics of the enemy and neutralize their conspiracies, while others possess an offensive aspect aimed at affecting the spirit of the opposing party and compelling them to surrender. Additionally, many verses serve to reinforce the resolve of Muslim forces. Numerous Hadiths also elaborate on this field.
J. F. C. Fuller, a British military historian and analyst, was the first to use the term “psychological warfare” in 1920. Subsequently, the first documented use of the term appeared in an article titled “Psychological Warfare and How to Launch It,” published in one of the American military publications in 1940.
During the First World War, Britain established an office called War Propaganda, which was elevated to the Ministry of Information in 1918. The United States created the Propaganda Committee in 1917, just two weeks after entering the war. After losing the First World War, the Germans identified the absence of a propaganda strategy as one of the key factors contributing to their defeat. Less than a week after the Nazis’ victory in 1933, Hitler ordered the establishment of a ministry known as Propaganda, appointing Joseph Goebbels as its head. Consequently, even when enemy infantry entered Nazi headquarters, the war propaganda influenced the youth, convincing them to continue fighting in the streets of Berlin.
The significance of psychological warfare and the effective outcomes of propaganda in the First World War positioned propaganda as a strategic priority in the Second World War, becoming a critical component of military strategy alongside military and intelligence dimensions.
At the end of the First World War, propaganda was increasingly utilized as a psychological tactic by colonial powers. The primary aim of this form of propaganda was the intellectual colonization of oppressed nations on political, economic, and cultural fronts. To justify these policies, they manipulated and misled public opinion both domestically and internationally. Such practices gained immense importance during the Second World War, leading warring parties to compete in their use to achieve their objectives, which became known as psychological warfare or nerve warfare.
Following this period, psychological warfare emerged as vital as armed conflict, and in some cases, even more so. This shift meant that armed conflict now had a psychological dimension. In today’s world, psychological warfare is ingrained in the political, military, economic, social, and cultural activities of dominant nations, often conducted under the guise of intelligence operations at both national and international levels. For instance, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of America currently utilizes psychological methods to shape public opinion both in the U.S. and globally. One of the CIA’s key activities in various countries is controlling the press, particularly newspapers.
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