A Call for Papers from ASMI member Linda Risso, for your information (with 
apologies for cross-posting). Paola Filippucci ASMI Secretary

*  *  * CALL FOR PAPERS *  *  *

Information and Propaganda
For an History of the Techniques of Consensus Creation Since 1939

International Conference
ULB, Brussels - End of March 2007


Often perceived as complementary but distinct elements, in the past
decade propaganda and information have been at the centre of
historical research. Propaganda has frequently been defined as a
distinctive component of dictatorial regimes whereas information has
been seen as a specific element of democracies. Democratic regimes -
so it is often maintained - turn to propaganda only in exceptional
cases, namely in wartime. The historiography of propaganda has also
been built around its structures, its use of the mass media and its
contents and has predominantly referred to the national scenario.
Albeit a few exceptions, historians have often overlooked the elements
and techniques that the nation-states (broadly defined as to include
dictatorships as well as democracies) actually share in their attempt
to create consensus.

The research questions addressed by this conference follow the journée
d'études Advertising and Propaganda Techniques in Europe, 1920s-1960s.
A Comparative View organised at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in
January 2006. Consequently, this conference aims to focus on the
techniques and the experts of propaganda and information rather than
on their contents. It questions the variety of competencies and
heterogeneity of expertise and how they have been progressively
adapted in order to suit different various political systems.

Proposals should take into consideration at least some of the research
questions below:

- What are the definitions of "propaganda" and "information"? On what
theoretical bases do we distinguish the two terms?
- Who are the propaganda and information experts? What are the
competencies and skills shared by the personnel of the propaganda and
information machinery since 1939?
- How have the propaganda and information experts acquired their
skills and experience? What are their education and previous job
experience? What is their theoretical framework of reference?
- What are the links between the information/propaganda actions and
the monitoring of their impact on public opinion?
- Is it possible to identify similar techniques and expertise within
different political regimes and between war and post-war contexts?
- Is there an exchange of competencies and expertise between the
political, commercial and military domains? How have the techniques
used in the marketing field been applied to the political sphere?
- What is the position of the international organisations and
transnational political movements? How have they created their
propaganda and/or information apparatus and how do they relate to
above-mentioned issues?

One-page proposals (in English or French) should be sent via email to
propconf[at]ulb.ac.be no later than Tuesday, 31 October 2006. The
authors of the accepted proposals will be asked to submit the full
text of their papers by Thursday, 1 March 2007. The conference is
going to take place at Université Libre de Bruxelles at the end of
March 2007.

Organisers: Dr Irene Di Jorio, Dr Véronique Pouillard, Dr Linda Risso.

Postal address:
Département Histoire, Arts, Archéologie
C.P. 175/01
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50
B-1050 Bruxelles

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