◆ SpookStack

' ( THE TECHNIQUES OF SOVIET 1 PAGANDA 19 whose allegiance is camouflaged, one quarter recruited from the noted social category of “political half-virgins,” more or less innocent but naive people, whose complaisance is rewarded by platform appearances and prestige; and the remaining one quarter constitutionally incurable political virgins, who will never learn from experience. Thanks to this amalgam, and the outward respectability, members are able to sey: “It’s an independent organization, although with a few Com- munists. Why not? It’aa freecountry.’’ While, behind the facade, it is under the strict control of Moscow. FACTIONAL WORK In these crypto-Communist organizations, propaganda is made and members, many of whom do not realize they are serving the Soviets, are manipulated by means of factional work, a notorious and formidable technique specially developed by the Soviets. Certain members, card-carrying Communists and disciplined aux- iliaries, form factions, or cells, that moet secretly before the general assemblies, to assign each person hia role. They decide who will speak and for how long, what will be said and what will be left un- spoken, prepare resolutions to be approved, and decide which will be rejected, polish their instructions and rehearse advice to be whis- pered in the proper ears, work out agreements which will have the appearance of spontaneity, and invent a few clanders to throw at the peychological moment at someone they fear may prove unmanageable. f the person suspected of dissent is so highly esteemed that he is immune to slander, he may be dispatched on an opportune mission the day of the vote. The uninformed and apathetic, who are easily influenced, and those under an obligation to the faction because of some favor granted or anticipated, will be urged to attend critical meetings. New members will be recruited shortly before a crucial vote who, being “green,” are easily intimidated and have little under- standing of the issues under consideration. Thus a small nucleus of determined, disciplined, and synchronized men, working as a team, motivated by the gratification of manipulati others, exalted by the sense of serving a formidable power, with scruples abandoned, can succeed in dominating groups of people far more numerous, but unorganized, ill informed, timid, irresolute, and inhibited by moral and ideological principles. The entire edifice of Soviet propaganda can be said to be built on the pattern of a pyramid composed of secret factions. The leaders at the top in each party can be comprehended as a faction manipu- lating their own organization, as they maintain their power by placing their supporters in positions of responsibility within the party. The party itself constitutes a faction for manipulating parallel organiza- tions. Parallel organizations are factions for manipulating the whole society. Prevailing from top to bottom is the governing principle of Bolshevism, the governing principle of all conspiratorial forces, subjection of an incoherent majority to a cohesive minority. ADVANTAGES DERIVED FROM PARALLEL ORGANIZATIONS Parallel organizations pay substantial dividends to the Soviets. By spreading in widely diversified circles, through channels adapted to 30-602 O—65——-+4 a