The history of propaganda and advertising are now both reaching maturity. They have for a long time been considered as two separate disciplines, the first in the field of politics, the second in the field of economic history. Scholars paid less attention to the links between advertising and propaganda. In order to cross that border, it is essential to study the techniques, but also the specialists of propaganda and advertising. In order to do so, we propose to study the theoretical and technical works and the networks and circles of technicians in the broader sense. Confrontation between several European cases calls the links between political regimes and forms of communication into question. By examining the recruitment of technicians and the mobilisation of their skills, one can examine the organisation of propaganda under both democratic and authoritarian regimes.
Therefore, we will examine the transfer of knowledge within Europe and between the United States of America and Europe. This will allow us to measure the impact of American theories and techniques and the organisation of exchanges.
The proposals for papers should discuss the following core issues: Who are the professionals of propaganda and advertising? Which are the links between advertising techniques and political propaganda techniques?Which “scientific” skills were shared by the managers and spokespersons of propaganda between the 1920s and the 1960s (especially as far as opinion, mass psychology, social psychology are concerned)? From which models did they draw their inspiration? How did propagandists and admen acquire their know-how? Did they receive identical or specific training? Who recruited admen and propagandists? Did the recruiting institutions (States at war or in peacetime, political parties, enterprises…) share similar expectations?
Please send two page proposals to the two addresses below before April 20th, 2005. Upon acceptance, participants will be invited to submit full-length papers by October 1rst, 2005. The workshop will be organised at the University of Brussels in January 2006.