Political communication in the context of national security: comparison of West and East Germany during the cold war

Abstract

In this master’s thesis, political communication strategies employed in West Germany and East Germany, particularly in the context of national security, are compared. The motives that created the concept of the Cold War and the role of political communication in the victory of the capitalistic world are questioned. This study claims that the more a sign received by the receiver as an intention to be accepted, the more it requires synchronisation with the effectuality in the receiver’s perceived reality. Thus, a message's persuasive ability is based on its perceived reality. This claim has been supported by the visual exemplifications of West German and East German, parallel to the ongoing events of their publishing periods. In the light of arguments about a new upcoming cold war today, this study also claims that the success of the Cold War by the Western countries against the Soviet Union is not a replicant of today’s conditions when it comes to creating a common enemy, this time for Russia and/or China.