Propaganda in securitization theory: the case of the US's Iraq war, 2003

This study examines the role of propaganda in securitization theory through the United States' process of securitizing Iraq after the September 11 attacks. Although there are studies in the literature on the US 'securitization of Iraq and the use of propaganda in the process leading up to the 2003 Iraq War, there is a lack of studies focusing on the effect of propaganda use on securitization. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of propaganda on the success of the securitization process. The research will be carried out in a qualitative model. One of the most important steps in the securitization process is to convince the masses of the existence of an existential threat and the necessity of an urgent exceptional intervention. In this context, propaganda is a critical variable of the securitization process as a concept that includes shaping the emotions, attitudes and behaviors of the target audiences. According to the findings of the study, although the process of securitizing Iraq has been successful in general, it is seen that the result has changed when analyzed in the context of different populations. This study claims that propaganda plays a decisive role in the success of the securitization process.