Myth and Machinery

Description

Authoritarian regimes don’t just rule through laws – they rule through stories. This session explores the narrative architecture behind authoritarian power: national myths, nostalgic visions, purity narratives, and the invention of sacred enemies. Participants will examine why emotional myth-making is more persuasive than facts, how these stories bypass logic, and what it takes to counter them with symbolic awareness and psychological skill.

Focus area:

Authoritarianism & Democratic Resilience

Program Details

1 week

Outcome

Expose the emotional and symbolic power of authoritarian narratives

1-2 weeks

Psychological Foundations

🧠 Narrative Identity

🧠 Emotion & Memory in Political Cognition

🧠 Psychology of Political Symbols

3 week

Key Takeaways

☑️ Understand how myth fuels loyalty, fear, and identity

☑️ Spot common narrative tropes used in authoritarian messaging

☑️ Learn why facts often fail to change belief

☑️ Use psychological insight to counter myth-driven control

3 week

Choose this when

Narratives are shaping group behavior

You need a framework to interpret myth-driven messaging

4 week

Great for

Human Rights Orgs

‍Working in environments where national myths and enemy narratives fuel exclusion or violence

NGOs & Policy Advocates

‍Addressing myth-shaped perceptions rather than relying on facts alone

Civic Educators

‍Helping people understand how myths bypass logic and shape political behavior

Journalists & Media Analysts

‍Tracking persuasive narrative tropes and exposing myth-driven manipulation

Description

Program Details

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