Allies and audiences: evolving strategies in defense and intelligence propaganda

This article discusses changes to what were seen by government planners as “out-dated” British and American propaganda systems following 9/11 and the Iraq War. It presents qualitative research examining how government propaganda strategies responded to global asymmetric threats in a post-9/11 media environment. The article draws on both documentary evidence and the accounts of elite sources from Britain and the United States including Public Relations professionals, journalists, and foreign policy, defense, and intelligence personnel. Recently, the intelligence contractor Edward Snowden revealed the extent to which the speed of adaptation in surveillance practices has left policy and oversight behind, raising concern over ethics, privacy, and transparency. The article will explore an adaptation of propaganda systems that also occurred unhindered by public debate. It will show how U.S. and U.K. Governments believed existing propaganda systems were not responding to the information environment and discusses legal, structural, and cultural issues in propaganda practices, post-9/11. Planners assisted in gradually changing structures and cultures of propaganda in both countries for reasons of operational effectiveness. The Anglo-American relationship will be highlighted as one tool capable of overcoming obstacles or restrictions in propaganda for purposes of counterterrorism. Interviews indicated that this was enabled by the countries’ different capabilities and weak legislative restrictions, which some highlighted as advantageous to planning. The article will consider the resilience of U.S./U.K. restrictions and governance of propaganda, highlighting areas for concern.