Disinformation

Psychological operations—PSYOPs—are often painted as shadowy mind-control tools wielded by a secret cabal. Reality is less cinematic but far more interesting. PSYOPs are deliberate efforts to influence the beliefs, emotions, or behaviours of target audiences. They are planned, measurable, and bureaucratically codified—but that doesn’t make them benign, nor do they naturally uphold transparency or democratic norms. The US Department of Defense defines PSYOPs as operations “to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately their behavior”. This definition is precise but neutral: it says what the practice is, not whether it is ethical. The challenge is recognising influence in action without falling into conspiracy or mystique. ...

The ARTE and Artline Films documentary series Evangelicals for World Domination (2023) dissects the improbable journey of evangelical Christianity from tent revivals to the corridors of power. Directed by Thomas Johnson, this three-part investigation charts how a once-fringe religious movement became a geopolitical heavyweight, shaping policies from Washington to Jerusalem. With a mix of archival footage and candid interviews, the series reveals a story of divine ambition meeting earthly power plays—a holy trinity of faith, money, and influence. ...