Taking the Risk Out of Democracy: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty

by Alex Carey

A collection of his essays (several of them previously unpublished) on corporate propaganda were published "Taking the Risk Out of Democracy: Propaganda in the U.S. and Australia" (University of New South Wales Press). This book was reissued in 1997 by University of Illinois Press under the title "Taking the Risk Out of Democracy: Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty".

Genres: Politics, Economics, Nonfiction, History, Journalism, Political Science

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Alexander Edward Carey was an Australian writer and social psychologist who pioneered the study of corporate propaganda. In his earlier life he had been a sheep farmer in Western Australia.

From 1958 until his death, he was a lecturer in psychology at the University of New South Wales. The main subjects of his lectures and research were industrial psychology, and industrial relations. He was prominent in the anti-Vietnam War movement.

Carey committed suicide in 1987.

Reviews

[Public Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This clarified my understanding of business propaganda in a way that multiple other books I have read on the subject did not. I feel I have a much sharper understanding now.

Alex Carey was an Australian academic who studied under Noam Chomsky. I originally heard Carey's work described by Chomsky and that is why I sought it out. I'm glad I did.

This book was published after Carey's death. It is a bit of a mishmash of different essays collected under one title. Yet aside from the last two chapters and a missing conclusion I would say this holds up admirably well.

The business assault on American minds began shortly after World War I. It helped pave the way for the McCarthy-era anticommunist hysteria. Carey demonstrates how techniques have been refined and honed over the last century to get the precise results desired by the people who pay to influence what we think. In other words, he names names. This book was thorough and deep, yet still readable and enjoyable. It's too bad that Carey didn't get the chance to make a more cohesive book, but this one is still great.

[Ron Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Carey pioneered the study of corporate propaganda, aka HR, PR and ‘economic education’ for workers. He is credited by Noam Chomsky (who wrote the Foreword) as the inspiration for his Manufacturing Consent. Carey argues that “the twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.” He says that corporate propaganda machines arise naturally in democratic capitalist states where policy is swayed by public opinion. Corporate propaganda arises in response to the key threats of the right to vote and union membership, in order to “subordinate the expression of democratic aspirations and the interests of larger public purposes to their own narrow corporate purposes.” This creates what he calls “a propaganda-managed democracy.” His 11 chapters cover the growth of this propaganda system in the United States, its exportation to other countries, and the emergence in academia of a social science research base to support the spread of corporate propaganda. An important book that I believe anyone with an interest in these subjects should read.

[Mat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains how companies conduct feedback sessions with small groups of employees to give the impression that they are involving them democratically in the way the company is run - a key element in union-busting.

[Aaron Curmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly informative and complete look at the roots of corporate propaganda in the U.S., U.K., and Australia with the main emphasis being given to the States. Carey outlines in great detail how this leviathan came to be what it is today by tracing it back to the early 20th century, giving particular attention to the time around World War One.

While it is rather dry (it is an academic work, after all), the information is accessible and interesting. Carey's unpacking of this particular piece of history is meticulous and very well-sourced, making his points solid. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in political science and the machinations of U.S. politics. Especially in the current political climate, this book serves the reader well by pulling back the veil of propaganda and exposing the corporate machine for what it is.

The final chapter could be removed as it is quite technical, but much of the rest of the book should be required reading.

[Stevan Ranney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating but dry book should be required reading; it was Chomsky's inspiration for his book, Manufacturing Consent (which I have not read). This is an eye-opening account of the beginnings of PR during WW1 through the 70's. Things have become much more sophisticated since then, given social media and unrestrained network programming but this book documents the birth and early evolution of the propaganda of which we have consumed to obesity.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely informative book in regard to corporate propaganda. It is dated at times in its references, but so much of it still his true.

I was fascinated by how corporate propaganda was often able to utilize war for swings, and how overt they have been about controlling the masses - especially in the early years.

[Sam Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting but lost its edge by the final few chapters. Would recommend!

[Thomas Ray]

Library-of-Congress JK467 C37 1995 Memorial Library

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea, but I did learn a lot.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every college freshman should read chapters 3 & 5.
Chapters 9 (The Human Relations Approach) & 11 (The Hawthorne Studies) are intersting too.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a brief but excellent review of early-20th century politics in america as it pertains to creating an 'illusion' of true democracy among the masses...doubtful, you say? give it a chance...

[Dr Ann Lawless]

powerful and still contemporary