Advice, Information, Persuasion

Abstract

One of the four basic resources of government discussed in the last chapter was ‘nodality’, that is, the property of being in the middle of a social network. One of the important things that government gets from its central position is a store of information or a panoramic picture. This gives it a reason to be listened to, quite apart from any of its other government-like properties, unless it forfeits all credibility. Governments can therefore use information (or ‘disinformation’) as an ‘effecting’ tool, and have done so since ancient times.

‘But…’, I attempted to explain, ‘… that’s just phony. It’s dishonest, it’s juggling with figures, it’s pulling the wool over people’s eyes.’

‘A government press release, in fact’, said Humphrey.

(Lynn and Jay, 1981, p. 74)