Propaganda, Inc.: The State-Corporate Nexus and US Democracy Manipulation

Click here to access article by John Brissenden from New Left Project.

The increasingly close relationship between Google and the US “democracy promotion” apparatus recently took a new turn with the launch of a new, private, non-profit organisation designed to leverage the resources of major US corporations in manipulating democratic movements in (initially) four nations: Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Russia.

It's clear that the political operatives of the Empire's One Percent are enhancing their weapons of subversion against those they characterize as "violent extremists", which is code for activists of all types who are organizing all over the world to fight the attacks of the Empire on their resources, their social benefits, their media, their educational institutions, etc. Why? In their own words:

“Anti-Americanism and violent extremism threaten the commercial and investment climate for U.S. businesses in countries that are essential energy sources and potentially significant markets... SAGE will contribute to more stable markets where American business can thrive.”

The rationale for the scheme is clear. US policymakers have been looking for ways to maximise the use of “soft power” to complement American military and economic dominance, and for ways to place the interaction of the state and corporations in the propaganda effort on a stable footing....