Synthesis Federalist Though control the brussels propaganda

Introduction

The line between information and propaganda always seems to be a breakable one. For Martin

Ball, Robert Oulds and Dr Lee Rotherham, there is no doubt that the European Union crosses

it. In their pamphlet “Federalist Though Control: The Brussels Propaganda Machine”

published on the Bruges Group website on the 18th of June 2002, they denounce the European

propaganda carried out in Brussels, from the headquarters of the European institutions. This

text exhibits an opposition to a further integration of the United Kingdom in the European

Union, and chimes with the wave of Euroscepticism. The reasoning of the authors will first be

briefly analysed, with a focus on the authors’ message. The objective of the text will then be

presented before moving to an interpretation of the argumentation of the authors.

The authors’ message

“Federalist Thought Control: the Brussels propaganda machine” is a pamphlet which directly

condemns the management of the European budget directed towards information and

communication. According to the authors, the promotion of the EU turns into a genuine

propaganda aimed at influencing people’s minds. Such a propaganda is so anchored in our

society that people have become blind to it. From the flag to the cards game, the European

Union is now visible everywhere in our daily life. Emblems of supra-national identity are

replacing those of national identity in the same way European ideals are replacing national

ideals in people’s minds. The EU has become a distinguishable entity with its own symbols,

culture and interests. As a consequence, the authors warn against this increasing supra-national

identity supported by biased information, namely a propaganda.

The authors’ objective

Rather than a guidebook aimed at the general public, this text purports to be a genuine weapon

aiming to destroy misconceptions surrounding the European Union. It is an attempt at shedding

into light the uneven playing field in which Eurosceptics are fighting. The two sides of the

argument do not dispose of the same means in order to achieve their goal. Pro-Europeans

countries and pro-European political parties benefit from subventions, which increases their

advantage over Eurosceptic entities. Moreover, the authors put the emphasis on the staggering

amount of money directed towards this propaganda which, in their eyes, amounts to a misuse

of taxpayers’ money.

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