Legal Definitions - subversive propaganda

Subversive propaganda refers to the dissemination of information, often biased, misleading, or false, with the specific intent to undermine, weaken, or overthrow an existing government, political system, or social order. It aims to incite discontent, disloyalty, or rebellion among the populace, thereby challenging established authority and stability.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a clandestine group within a country that publishes and widely distributes pamphlets and online articles. These materials falsely claim that the current government leaders are secretly planning to sell off vital national resources to a foreign power, enriching themselves at the expense of the citizens. The pamphlets explicitly urge citizens to refuse to pay taxes, engage in widespread civil disobedience, and participate in mass protests to destabilize the government and force its collapse.

  This is an example of subversive propaganda because the information, whether true or false, is disseminated with the clear intent to undermine the authority and legitimacy of the established government, encouraging actions that could lead to its overthrow.

• During a period of heightened international tension, a foreign state broadcasts radio messages and spreads social media posts into a rival country. These messages encourage the rival nation's military personnel to desert their posts, disregard orders from their commanders, and question the legitimacy of their government's defense policies. The goal is to sow discord within the military and weaken the rival nation's defense capabilities.

  This illustrates subversive propaganda as it targets a critical institution (the military) with information designed to incite disloyalty and insubordination, thereby weakening the state's ability to defend itself and maintain order.

• Consider an extremist organization that creates and shares videos and manifestos online, systematically demonizing a specific minority group within a society. These materials falsely accuse the group of widespread criminal activity and economic sabotage, with the explicit goal of inciting public hatred and civil unrest against them. The organization hopes to disrupt social cohesion and create widespread discord that could lead to a breakdown of social order.

  This represents subversive propaganda because it uses biased and false information to undermine the social order and stability of a nation by inciting hatred and division among its citizens, which can indirectly challenge the state's ability to govern effectively and maintain peace.