Video games as a propaganda tool: Representation of the USA

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: DİNA ERAD

Danışman: ÖZGEHAN ŞENYUVA

Özet:

“Power” is one of the oldest and most controversial topics of IR. Although there are various views on this concept, there is no consensus. The distinction between “hard power” and “soft power” which is coined by Joseph Nye, seems to be a remarkable contribution to IR discipline in recent years. According to Nye, while hard power stands for traditional means of power such as military and economic tools; soft power presents the power that states gain with other states’ / or citizens of other states will, sympathy or reputation. Therefore; practices of public relations, public diplomacy or propaganda can be considered as means of soft power. One of the effective methods of using soft power is to trigger or address emotions. For this reason, arts that is an expression of emotions is often used as a tool of propaganda. Especially with the development and proliferation of digital technologies; digital platforms are becoming both a tool and a ground for production, consumption, spreading and distribution of art. There are different views on whether video games are products of arts or not. As products of digital arts, video games can be considered as tools of propaganda and soft power.