About this episode

Jeffrey Whyte discusses his book on the history and implications of psychological warfare from WWII to the Vietnam War.

Jeffrey Whyte's book The Birth of Psychological War: Propaganda, Espionage, and Military Violence from WWII to the Vietnam War (Oxford UP, 2023) explores the history, politics, and geography of United States psychological warfare in the 20th century against the backdrop of the contemporary 'post-truth era'. From its origins in the Second World War, to the United States' counterinsurgency campaigns in Vietnam, Whyte traces how the theory and practice of psychological warfare transformed the relationship between the home front and theatres of war. Whyte interrogates the broader political mythologies that animate popular conceptions of psychological war, such as its claim to make war more humane and less violent. On the contrary, The Birth of Psychological War demonstrates the role of psychological warfare in expanding the scope and scale of military violence amidst ostensible efforts to 'win hearts and minds'. While casting a critical eye on psychological warfare, Whyte establishes its continued significance for the contemporary student of international relations. Dr. Whyte earned his Ph.D. with the Department of Geography, University of British Columbia and before that a MA with…

People in this episode

Guest: Jeffrey Whyte

Topics covered

• psychological warfare
• propaganda
• military violence
• history of warfare
• international relations
• Vietnam War
• World War II

Keywords

• psychological war
• propaganda
• espionage
• military violence
• counterinsurgency
• post-truth era
• hearts and minds

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxford UP, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Lancaster University

Places: British Columbia

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