The term "propaganda" was originally coined by the Jesuits in the seventeenth century; it was the name given to the Vatican committee charged with propagating the Catholic faith to the rest of the world. However, it did not become part of everyday global vernacular until the beginning of World War I, when many Western powers began to use the new techniques of "mass advertising" and "public relations" to rouse popular support for their causes. Not to be outdone by our European allies, the American government entered into the propaganda fray shortly thereafter, flooding the US population with jingoistic, one-sided information.

DEFINE: Traces the etymology of 'propaganda' from its Jesuit origin as a Vatican missionary committee to its modern meaning during WWI. XREF: Connects to contemporary critiques of media manipulation and how state-backed information campaigns are framed as patriotism.

DEFINE: Explains the etymology of 'propaganda' — originally a Jesuit Vatican committee name for spreading Catholic faith, before becoming a wartime mass-communication tool.

Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Gl…, loc. 738