The Art of Brainwashing
How the Alt-Right is dismantling democracies through disinformation campaigns and stealth brainwashing techniques.
In the realm of social work, we can learn a lot about people through their personal history and family dynamics. As a macro social worker, I’ve been inclined to include world and regional history in my studies of human behavior.
One of the things that never fails to surprise me is the power of brainwashing. No, I’m not talking about reprogramming through physical coercion; I’m referring to the ongoing efficacy of stealth brainwashing. It’s a psychological operations war that the Alt-Right in the United States has been organizing for decades - and they’re currently winning.
“Stealth (noun): a cautious, unobtrusive, and secretive way of moving or proceeding intended to avoid detection.”
“Brainwashing (noun): the process of pressurizing someone into adopting radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible means.”
Stealth Brainwashing is a tactic extensively covered in the documentary, The Brainwashing of My Dad:
While I highly recommend books like Democracy in Chains, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, The Shock Doctrine, and other no-nonsense texts on how corporate greed is strangling democracy, I highly recommend the following for understanding how collective brainwashing occurs - and how it can be stopped:
Terror, Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems by Alexandra Stein
The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us by Martha Stout
Brainwashing: The science of thought control by Kathleen Taylor
Brainwashing, when it comes to Alt-Right demagogues, has been of keen interest to me especially since the 2016 US Presidential Election. The following infographic is based on Kathleen Taylor’s book - which is covered in The Brainwashing of My Dad - and broken down into five main steps:
If we’re intent on combating the rise of Neo-Fascism around the world (see Turning Point US & UK, Lega Nord, etc.), the first step is understanding how we’ve gotten this far in the first place. The next step? Dismantling disinformation by striking at the root causes - and funders - of Fascism’s ascent.
Stealth brainwashing has become a carefully-curated piece of Fascist art by the Alt-Right, and both Democracy in Chains and The Brainwashing of My Dad do an excellent job at detailing the bone-chilling timeline. It’s a direct attack on democracy, and an intentional campaign to revoke human rights for ethnic minorities, women, and LGBTQ individuals. Essentially, it’s a dystopia that is reminiscent of the early 1900s but with advanced weapons and technology.
No voting rights, no voice, no safety. Just obedience or death.
Stealth brainwashing starts out without coercion, but the aim is to legitimize fear-based beliefs and then deploy brainwashing through coercion. Think of Hitler Youth or other mandatory, ultra-Nationalist education systems.
In the next few weeks before Election Day, consider how you can contribute in shining a light on stealth brainwashing in your own circles. Additionally, how do you think you can help prevent Fascism from destroying democracy? What do you think that looks like?
With less than six weeks to go, the United States has little time for coddled introspection. If the country continues to neglect the festering would that the Alt-Right is rapidly expanding, it will be one sad kiss good night for democracy as we know it.
