第9章 世論に及ぼす影響力 n.11 - 官製宣伝の力の過大評価
世論に影響を与える力(権力)は,他のすべての形式の権力と同様に,合同し集中化する傾向があり,そうして,論理的には,国家の独占へと導いていく傾向がある。しかし,戦争(の場合)は別として,国家が宣伝を独占すれば,政府は不死身(invulnerable 難攻不落)になるに違いないと仮定するのは早計であろう。けっきょく,権力を掌握した者は,普通一般の人々の利益に対してあまりにもひどく無関心になりそうである。それはルーテル時代の(歴代の)教皇たちの民衆に対する無関心さ)と同様である。遅かれ早かれ(早晩),第二のルーテル(新しいルーテル)が国家の権威(権力)に挑むことになり,彼の先行者(=ルーテル)と同様に急速な成功を納め,彼を抑えることは不可能になるであろう。このようなことは,統治者(支配者)たちが起こるはずがないと信じているからこそ,必ず起こるであろう。しかし,そのためにおこる変化が改善に向かうかどうかを予見することは不可能である。 |
Chapter IX: Power Over Opinion, n.11It is easy to overestimate the power of official propaganda, especially when there is no competition. In so far as it devotes itself to causing belief in false propositions of which time will prove the falsity, it is in as bad a position as the Aristotelians in their opposition to Galileo. Given two opposing groups of States, each of which endeavours to instil the certainty of victory in war, one side, if not both, must experience a dramatic refutation of official statements. When all opposing propaganda is forbidden, rulers are likely to think that they can cause anything to be believed, and so to become over-weening and careless. Lies need competition if they are to retain their vigour.Power over opinion, like all other forms of power, tends to coalescence and concentration, leading logically to a State monopoly. But even apart from war it would be rash to assume that a State monopoly of propaganda must make a government invulnerable. In the long run, those who possess the power are likely to become too flagrantly indifferent to the interests of the common man, as the Popes were in the time of Luther. Sooner or later, some new Luther will challenge the authority of the State, and, like his predecessor, be so quickly successful that it will be impossible to suppress him. This will happen because the rulers will believe that it cannot happen. But whether the change will be for the better it is impossible to foresee. |