Péter Krekó – Brainwashing of the People, by the People, with the People: Mass Persuasion and Systemic Disinformation in Democratic and non-Democratic contexts
This paper explores the evolution of mass persuasion and disinformation in both democratic and autocratic contexts, challenging traditional paradigms of information control. Modern “spin dictatorships” prioritize manipulating information over violence, using social media, AI, and surveillance to manufacture consent. The study highlights the diminishing relevance of the democracy-autocracy divide as both systems increasingly adopt similar tools of disinformation, polarization, and media manipulation. The tools of information manipulation and distortion that “spin dictators” use are spreading all over the democratic world. Psychological factors like system justification, moral emotions, and informational helplessness make societies susceptible to manipulation, while tribal myths and symbolic politics foster in-group cohesion. Non-systemic drivers, including leader charisma and “politicotainment,” enhance the appeal of disinformation. The paper argues for rethinking outdated concepts of propaganda, advocating for pluralistic media, digital literacy, and interventions addressing the psychological roots of disinformation to safeguard democratic values in a post-truth era.
Download the paper HERE.
Suggested citation: Krekó, Péter. 2025. “Brainwashing of the People, by the People, with the People: Mass Persuasion and Systemic Disinformation in Democratic and non-Democratic contexts.” AUTHLIB Working Papers 5.
