The Language of Nationalism

1. The Language of Nationalism Bartu Kaleagasi Gabriele Zatterin

2. The Nazi Enabling Act March 23, 1933

3. Background • “Law for Removing the Distress of the People and the Reich” • Change in German constitution • Enacted in 1933

4. Background • And who was blamed? • 40,000 members of the opposition arrested • Nazi majority achieved • Lies, lies and more lies!

5. The Enabling Act • All other political parties were dissolved • Trade unions were liquidated • Hitler became Fuhrer of the German Reich • Hitler became commander-in-chief of the army

6. Nazi Political Propaganda • “We chose red for our posters, since it is vivid and was the color that most aroused our opponents. It forced them to notice and remember us.” – Adolf Hitler

7. Nazi Political Propaganda

8. Nazi Political Propaganda • “Who is Adolf Hitler?The man from the people, for the people! The German front soldier who risked his life in 48 battles for Germany! What does Adolf Hitler want? Freedom and food for every decent working German! The gallows for profiteers, black marketers and exploiters, regardless of religious faith or race! Why is Adolf Hitler not allowed to speak? Because he is ruthless in uncovering the rulers of the German economy, the international bank Jews and their lackeys, the Democrats, Marxists, Jesuits, and Free Masons! Because he wants to free the workers from the domination of big money! Working Germans! Demand the lifting of the illegal ban on his speaking!

9. Nazi Political Propaganda • Use of red • “National Socialism: The Organized Will of the Nation.” • Ideological Bias • Generalization • Speculation • To eventually reach national consensus

10. Nazi Political Propaganda • “Two million dead. Did they die in vain? Never! Front soldiers! Adolf Hitler is showing you the way!”  • Alarmist Tone • Evokes Nationalism and Patriotism • Subliminal (war) message

11. Nazi Political Propaganda • “Death to Lies.” • Misleading conception • Marxism is a lie • High Finance is a lie • ‘High finance’ indicates the Jews • Snake is a reference to the bible • Ironic Contradiction?

12. Nazi Political Propaganda • “We are voting for Hindenburg– We are voting for Hitler, Look at these faces and you’ll know where you belong!” • Juxtaposition of Nazis and opponents • Celebrity Endorsement • Alfred Rosenberg • Joseph Goebbels

13. Nazi Political Propaganda • “The last stab” • Poster for the 1932 elections • Misconception • Alliance between Catholic Centre Party and the Marxist parties • Victimizes the Nazis

14. Nazi Political Propaganda • Poster for the 1932 elections • Completely different from everything else • Grim serious mood • Fear-based sensationalism

15. Consequences • Nazi Totalitarian control • Racial Persecutions  Holocaust • European Crisis  World War Two

16. The USA Patriot Act October 26, 2001

17. Background • “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act” • Enacted in 2001 • One month after 9/11

18. The Patriot Act • Title I: Enhancing domestic security against terrorism • Title II: Surveillance procedures • Title III: Anti-money-laundering to prevent terrorism • Title IV: Border security • Title V: Removing obstacles to investigating terrorism • Title VI: Victims and families of victims of terrorism • Title VII: Increased information sharing for critical infrastructure protection • Title VIII: Terrorism criminal law • Title IX: Improved Intelligence

19. Article of Analysis “Patriot Act a vital tool against terrorism” Written by Kevin V. Ryan Published on September 11th, 2003 SFGATE news – San Francisco

20. Date of article Published on September 11, 2003 Second anniversary of the 9/11 commemoration • Media manipulation • Use of emotional impact of 9/11 • Attempt to ignite nationalist feelings • Sense of guilt for opposing views

21. Introduction sentence “Two years ago today, we all bore witness to the callous viciousness of our terrorist enemies, as well as the devastation they seek to inflict.” • Fear-based sensationalism • Callous = showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others. • Viciousness = the trait of extreme cruelty • Devastation = great destruction or damage

22. First paragraph “That day, more than 3,000 Americans lost their lives, and the fight against terrorism became the Justice Department's first and highest priority.” • Alarmist reporting • Implies ongoing ‘war’ against terrorism • Use of “Justice Department” • “First and highest priority”

23. Second paragraph “I have instructed my prosecutors to use every legal weapon at their disposal to fight the war against terrorism -- particularly the USA Patriot Act.” • Use of anecdotal evidence • Personal example • “legal weapon” = language of war + nationalism • “particularly the USA Patriot Act” = emphasis

24. Third paragraph “Unfortunately, a small but vocal group of protesters have been mounting a campaign against the Patriot Act. Swayed by these protesters, a few local city councils have passed resolutions opposing the Patriot Act ... such efforts are largely based on misinformation and threaten to place the community at greater risk.” • Speculative claims • “Unfortunately” • “misinformation” = denouncing opposing views • “threaten” and “risk” = alarmist reporting

25. Fifth paragraph “While the Patriot Act is a key tool in the fight against terrorism, it provided for only modest, incremental changes in the law. The Patriot Act simply took existing legal principles and retrofitted them for the challenges posed by a well-financed and highly coordinated global terrorist network” • Misleading statement • “modest, incremental changes” • “existing legal principles” • Reality: massive changes in judicial criminal system

26. Eleventh paragraph “The Patriot Act does not allow federal law enforcement free and unchecked access to libraries, bookstores or other businesses. The act only allows a high-ranking FBI official to ask a federal court to grant an order in specific investigations to "protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.“ • Misleading statement • Reality: The act allows the FBI and the NSA to access any information without a “court to grant an order” or even a probable cause

27. Thirteenth paragraph “Lastly, some critics have claimed that the Patriot Act deprives Americans of their constitutional rights. To date, however, not a single provision of the act has been declared unconstitutional by any court. ” • Use of ‘expert’ views • Courts have not declared it unconstitutional yet (in 2003, only 2 years after), therefore it is entirely constitutional • Reality: Act allows unconditional targeting of all American citizens, without any proof of crime

28. Last paragraph “The Patriot Act, however, provides important tools that law enforcement can and should employ to fight the war on terror. I will not shrink from my sworn duty to do everything I can within the law to protect this district from terrorist attacks. Peoples' lives may well be at stake.” • Fear-based sensationalism • “fight the war on terror • “my sworn duty” • “people’s lives may well be at stake”

29. Conclusion • Stylistic devices used in order to create a hypodermic syringe idea • Asks people to blindly trust government’s decision-making • Ignores the basis of democracy • Checks and balances between judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government • Abuses American citizens’ emotions to pass a massive legal act without opposition

30. Consequences • USA Patriot Act empowered NSA (National Security Agency) • Wire-tapping of phones, e-mails, social media • Snowden revelations – internet surveillance • USA spying on Germany, EU, neighbour countries • Unlimited power with claim of anti-terrorism

32. Thank you!