Framing as an essential function of creating propaganda: Exploring the link between frames and propagandizing

Abstract

Sharing the belief with various scholars (Entman 1993, Scheufele 1999, Slothuus and de Vreese 2010) that further research in the field of framing is required, the study’s intention is to explore framing from various angles (psychological, cognitive, and as a media effects theory) in the context of propaganda, in order to bring new insight in the understanding of framing and propaganda theories, contribute to the existing scholarly discussion, and lead to a type of theory development by introducing new ideas and models. To achieve that, three main “pillars” that need to be researched and covered to establish the link between the two theories have been identified, leading to said synthesis and development. The first concerns the ways in which the two theories are linked and their potential overlap. The second focuses on the extent of importance of frames in propaganda. The third acts as the extension of the previous two and concerns the mechanics of influence as the core effect of framing and the fundamental driver of propaganda. By finding answers to these concerns, this study has attempted to acquire a deeper understanding of the two theories either separately or more importantly, as a broader unified concept.