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Emphasizing the threat to national values and freedoms

Definition

A propaganda technique that highlights potential dangers to a nation's core beliefs and liberties in order to rally support or justify actions.

Analogy

This is like when a team captain emphasizes the risk of losing the championship title to motivate teammates. The idea is that by highlighting what's at stake (the title), everyone will work harder for victory.

Related terms

Fear Appeal: A strategy used in advertising or persuasion that attempts to arouse fear in order to divert behavior. It's like telling kids they'll get cavities if they don't brush their teeth - it scares them into doing what you want.

Nationalism: Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. Imagine being so proud of your school that you think it should always win every competition - that’s nationalism on a smaller scale.

Patriot Act: U.S legislation passed after 9/11 which expanded law enforcement powers in the name of national security. Think about it as new rules implemented at school after an incident, giving teachers more authority over students' activities.