“Time bombs,” “Trojan Horses” and “Dithering Hamlets” were all part of the everyday jargon of the World War II’s ultra-Secretive Political Warfare Executive (PWE). The PWE’s instructors used these terms in the training of the next generation of propagandists and political warriors. The Political Warfare Executive Syllabus reveals for the first time what it took to become a propagandist in what was then the most elite psychological warfare unit in the world. Under the maxim that a good propagandist is trained not born, the lecturers of the PWE Training School at Woburn Abbey and then Brondesbury systematically explored every aspect of how to deliver a lethal dose of propaganda to the enemy and then a purgative and curative dose in the peace that followed. The views of the PWE’s instructors were controversial. This is significant because they would play an important, if hidden, role in how Europe is developing even today. For example, they held a low opinion of the French in general and considered that they had been reduced to the level of “dithering Hamlets” by the German “Trojan Horses” even before the first German tank had crossed the Belgian frontier. On the dark side of PWE operations, they were not above killing the prostitutes whose brothels served the German U-Boot fleet in order to amplify their propaganda message. Perhaps most significant is that they saw Great Britain as European and espoused a Europe that looks very much like the European Union of the early 21st Century. However, there is one important difference. They saw this Greater Europe as accepting the British way of life and being led by Great Britain and not embracing American culture under German leadership. This first volume introduces the reader to the history and theory of political warfare as seen through the eyes of the inheritors of Lord Northcliffe’s Crewe House. Drawing on J. F. C. Fuller and his concept of a war fought in the mind without armies, it establishes the theoretical parameters of political warfare.

“Time bombs,” “Trojan Horses” and “Dithering Hamlets” were all part of the everyday jargon of the World War II’s ultra-Secretive Political Warfare Executive (PWE). The PWE’s instructors used these terms in the training of the next generation of propagandists and political warriors. The Political Warfare Executive Syllabus reveals for the first time what it took to become a propagandist in what was then the most elite psychological warfare unit in the world. Under the maxim that a good propagandist is trained not born, the lecturers of the PWE Training School at Woburn Abbey and then Brondesbury systematically explored every aspect of how to deliver a lethal dose of propaganda to the enemy and then a purgative and curative dose in the peace that followed. The views of the PWE’s instructors were controversial. This is significant because they would play an important, if hidden, role in how Europe is developing even today. For example, they held a low opinion of the French in general and considered that they had been reduced to the level of “dithering Hamlets” by the German “Trojan Horses” even before the first German tank had crossed the Belgian frontier. On the dark side of PWE operations, they were not above killing the prostitutes whose brothels served the German U-Boot fleet in order to amplify their propaganda message. Perhaps most significant is that they saw Great Britain as European and espoused a Europe that looks very much like the European Union of the early 21st Century. However, there is one important difference. They saw this Greater Europe as accepting the British way of life and being led by Great Britain and not embracing American culture under German leadership. This first volume introduces the reader to the history and theory of political warfare as seen through the eyes of the inheritors of Lord Northcliffe’s Crewe House. Drawing on J. F. C. Fuller and his concept of a war fought in the mind without armies, it establishes the theoretical parameters of political warfare.

Time bombs, Trojan Horses and Dithering Hamlets were all part of the everyday jargon of the World War II's ultra-Secretive Political Warfare Executive (PWE). The PWE's instructors used these terms in the training of the next generation of propagandists and political warriors. The Political Warfare Executive Syllabus reveals for the first time what it took to become a propagandist in what was then the most elite psychological warfare unit in the world. Under the maxim that a good propagandist is trained not born, the lecturers of the PWE Training School at Woburn Abbey and then Brondesbury systematically explored every aspect of how to deliver a lethal dose of propaganda to the enemy and then a purgative and curative dose in the peace that followed. The views of the PWE's instructors were controversial. This is significant because they would play an important, if hidden, role in how Europe is developing even today. For example, they held a low opinion of the French in general and considered that they had been reduced to the level of dithering Hamlets by the German Trojan Horses even before the first German tank had crossed the Belgian frontier. On the dark side of PWE operations, they were not above killing the prostitutes whose brothels served the German U-Boot fleet in order to amplify their propaganda message. Perhaps most significant is that they saw Great Britain as European and espoused a Europe that looks very much like the European Union of the early 21st Century. However, there is one important difference. They saw this Greater Europe as accepting the British way of life and being led by Great Britain and not embracing American culture under German leadership. This first volume introduces the reader to the history and theory of political warfare as seen through the eyes of the inheritors of Lord Northcliffe's Crewe House. Drawing on J. F. C. Fuller and his concept of a war fought in the mind without armies, it establishes the theoretical parameters of political warfare.

Time bombs, Trojan Horses and Dithering Hamlets were all part of the everyday jargon of the World War II's ultra-Secretive Political Warfare Executive (PWE). The PWE's instructors used these terms in the training of the next generation of propagandists and political warriors. The Political Warfare Executive Syllabus reveals for the first time what it took to become a propagandist in what was then the most elite psychological warfare unit in the world. Under the maxim that a good propagandist is trained not born, the lecturers of the PWE Training School at Woburn Abbey and then Brondesbury systematically explored every aspect of how to deliver a lethal dose of propaganda to the enemy and then a purgative and curative dose in the peace that followed. The views of the PWE's instructors were controversial. This is significant because they would play an important, if hidden, role in how Europe is developing even today. For example, they held a low opinion of the French in general and considered that they had been reduced to the level of dithering Hamlets by the German Trojan Horses even before the first German tank had crossed the Belgian frontier. On the dark side of PWE operations, they were not above killing the prostitutes whose brothels served the German U-Boot fleet in order to amplify their propaganda message. Perhaps most significant is that they saw Great Britain as European and espoused a Europe that looks very much like the European Union of the early 21st Century. However, there is one important difference. They saw this Greater Europe as accepting the British way of life and being led by Great Britain and not embracing American culture under German leadership. This first volume introduces the reader to the history and theory of political warfare as seen through the eyes of the inheritors of Lord Northcliffe's Crewe House. Drawing on J. F. C. Fuller and his concept of a war fought in the mind without armies, it establishes the theoretical parameters of political warfare.

What is political warfare? In today's world, influence and manipulation are key tools nations use to achieve strategic goals. Political Warfare, part of the Political Science series, delves into statecraft, disinformation, and covert operations. Understanding these tactics reveals how countries shape perceptions, disrupt adversaries, and hold power. Whether you're a student or professional, this book offers an in-depth exploration of these strategies, answering essential questions to deepen your knowledge. 1: Political Warfare: Defines how nations use non-military methods to weaken opponents. 2: Disinformation: Explores the use of false information to destabilize governments. 3: Psychological Warfare: Examines tactics designed to manipulate perceptions and behaviors. 4: Black Propaganda: Covers deceptive communication intended to mislead and harm reputations. 5: Active Measures: Analyzes Soviet-era disruption tactics, still relevant today. 6: Subversion: Discusses undermining institutions from within to weaken states. 7: Agent of Influence: Explores how foreign actors covertly shape policies and opinions. 8: Psychological Operations (U.S.): Reviews U.S. military strategies to influence enemy perceptions. 9: Clandestine HUMINT and Covert Action: Covers intelligence gathering and covert operations in political warfare. 10: Three Warfares: Analyzes China’s blend of psychological, media, and legal warfare. 11: CIA Cryptonym: Reveals the coded language of CIA operations in political warfare. 12: Blowback (Intelligence): Investigates unintended consequences of covert actions that backfire. 13: Office of Policy Coordination: Chronicles the U.S. office responsible for political warfare. 14: Directorate of Operations (CIA): Reviews the CIA division for covert and clandestine activities. 15: CIA Activities in the Soviet Union: Explores the Cold War intelligence conflict with the Soviet Union. 16: Yuri Bezmenov: Details the defector’s revelations on Soviet subversion. 17: Chinese Information Operations: Examines China’s approach to digital-era political warfare. 18: Doolittle Report, 1954: Analyzes the report that reshaped U.S. covert operations. 19: Radio Propaganda: Covers the use of radio broadcasts as a propaganda tool. 20: Active Measures Working Group: Explores U.S. efforts against Soviet disinformation campaigns. 21: Dezinformatsia: Analyzes Soviet disinformation tactics and their modern relevance. This book provides a thorough understanding of political warfare, equipping readers to analyze its ongoing impact in global politics.

In the early years of World War II prospective agents for the Special Operations Executive were trained in the black arts of camouflage, sabotage and subterfuge. This training took place in a variety of requisitioned country houses all over Britain, from Arisaig in the highlands of Scotland to Beaulieu Manor in the New Forest. This book reproduces the extensive training manuals used to prepare agents for their highly dangerous missions behind enemy lines. The courses covered a variety of clandestine skills including disguise, surveillance, burglary, interrogation, close combat and assassination. In short, everything needed to wreak havoc in occupied Europe. Denis Rigden's expert introduction sets the file in its historical context and includes stories of how these lessons were carried out on actual wartime missions.