A ‘Soft war’ on communism: Analysis of 'The Interview'

When does freedom of expression cross the line? When does satire become defamation? When does art become propaganda? The blurred lines of these concepts have allowed the ‘leader of the free world’ to use cultural influences to pursue ideological world dominance against communist states (Sabet & Safshekan, n.d.). 

 The exploitation of the freedom of expression and art is used as a weapon to violate North Korea’s sovereignty.Western states are in dire need of new mediums to obtain forces of western imperialism as it is no longer pursued by military or economic factors (Sabet & Safshekan, n.d.). Conventional war is actually limited in some respects with its use of force as it is consistently questioned; when is it authorized and when is it justified (Price, 2012)? The hearts and minds of people, especially the youth is a prominent target and therefore the cultural influence or as IR Scholar Joseph Nye states ‘soft power’ has become as important has hard power.  Soft power is the “ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. When you can get others to want what you want” (Nye, 2004, p. 256). This is usually achieved by the appeal of a state’s culture, political ideals and policies. Soft war, on the other hand is a phenomenon which differs from soft power. It is the exercise of soft power by the west, which can be seen to be an attempt to create security challenges in order to achieve its foreign policy objectives (Wastnidge, 2014). It is the strategic and focused intervention to shape, reshape, reinforce or destabilize a state from within and from without (Price, 2012). The notion of a ‘soft war’ is best understood by the Iranian Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenenei interpretation: “The priority today is what is called soft war; that is war using cultural tools, through infiltration [of our society], through lies, through spreading rumours. Through the  advanced instruments that exist today, communication tool that did not exist 10, 15 and 30 years ago, that have become widespread. Soft war means creating doubt in people’s hearts and mind”

The current 'soft war' is fundamentally a conflict that has been ensuing for years; it is an ideological battleground with its roots deep in American and European history. What is at stake here is a means for financial and political dominance achieved through the gradual indoctrination of the people who don't believe. Capitalism has continued to grow with no real opposition as communism gradually fades (Moriarty, 2004). It is true that communist elements seem to exist in some countries but the allure of capitalism has continued to grow (Lichtenstein, 2006). Propaganda, advertising and media are vital elements in this decisive change as the change in the minds of the people sparks the conversion.

The  Cold War & The Vietnam War 

The war on communism was most prominent during the Cold War, where the bipolar world was divided into the West and the East.  Western Europe and South East Asia were inspired by the United States ideas of democracy and capitalism whereas Eastern Europe followed the Soviet Union and communism. Hollywood in the 1950’s was in a strong position, exporting its products worldwide (The History of Media Use for Propaganda Purposes, 2009). It was thus able to use film to not only revolve itself around American values such as family and trust but also project the ‘anti-commie’ message.The use of film/television in the west as an act of warfare against North Korea America played on the paranoia of its people by injecting the idea that anyone could be communist. The movies “I Married a Communist” (1947) and “My Son John” (1953) both explore a close family member brainwashed into allying with communism. The adjectives ‘Nameless’, ‘Shameless’ and ‘Scandalous’ defame the ideology and persons who were associated. Having an alternative political standpoint that wasn’t approved by American culture soon began to reflect more negative connotations. The soviet bloc is an example of using international broadcasting as a method of altering opinion. America softly prepared a target audience to become a demander of democratic change (Price, 2012).  Film was used during the cold war to promote American ideologies and acted as undercover propaganda to many. America’s interference in the Vietnam War is another battle against communism. At the end of the Indochina war, Vietnam was partitioned into two halves. The North was supported by the Soviet Union and quickly became communist whereas the south gained aid from the United States (Murray, 2005). 

During the Vietnam War that use of television hindered the management of public opinion (Cumings, 1992). Film and television was not strategically filtered. It was referred to as the first television war, whereby images of battle and conflict were systematically televised. Depictions of death and destruction portrayed war to be immoral and insupportable (Carruthers, 2000). The response to the Vietnam War declared the ‘home front’ to be as important as the battlefield and soon governments were interested in opinion forming and manufacturing consent. The concept of ‘manufacturing consent’ is a propaganda model (Herman and Chomsky, 2002). It is apparent here that the United States has spearheaded its capitalist intentions into the heart of communism. Events in both Europe and Asia   have underlined the intent of a country that is willing to use war to further its socio-economic ideological stance across the world. The concept of 'manufacturing consent' as Herman and Chomsky so termed, is representative of this belief. The masses had to believe in capitalism so that they would believe what they were fighting for exactly. The conviction that capitalism instilled in its followers was rooted in film and television and transferred into the lives of the citizens.

North Korea

In 1948 North Korea became a Communist state. Communism denotes the idea of distributing wealth equally. The people contribute according their capabilities and receive according to their needs. However in practice, communism creates poverty, strife and inequality (Adams, 2014). This violates the notion of human rights, in which the west is so eager to preserve. At the same time Communism is deemed to harm the environment. The US energy consumption is designed to be minimal, to maximize their profit margin. Energy used in 1989 to produce goods is half of what it was in 1920 (Adams, 2014). However due to the non-profit ideals in communism, manufacturing becomes wasteful and in North Korea can be up to 3 times more that in the United States (Adams, 2014).  North Korea's communist and socialist ways pose a threat to American values. North Korea was removed from America’s terrorism list in 2008 when an agreement of nuclear proliferation was conducted. However under the new rule of Kim-Jong Un, and his missile launch in 2013 it seems that America was desperate to find a new reasons to place North Korea back on the list (The Associated Press, 2015). The United States have accused North Korea of continuing to develop their weapons and ballistic missiles which violates multiple UN Security resolutions. (Adams, 2014). This is dangerous for the United states under Obama’s ‘nuclear zero’ program.  The United States can no longer return to another cold war and therefore must look towards other mediums of limiting North Korea. Where there is a lack of technology, strategies are built upon the exploitation of culture. Film/television is used to either bait North Korea’s reactions to begin a conventional war or to be used as propaganda to start a ‘soft war’. It is difficult to exert Western imperialism onto the North Korean public as they have a contact ban against anything that systematically undermines the North Korean system (Streissguth, Friedenthal and Weber, 2010). These are things such as think tanks, universities and broadcasting organization.

The release of “The Interview” has created much controversy from the hacking of Sony to the new sanctions imposed on North Korea, but can the  North Korean reactions be justified? ‘The Interview’ can be seen as an act of warfare in two ways. It could firstly be seen as a threat directly to the leader in North Korea as the storyline of the movie shows two journalists, after securing an interview in North Korea, planning and successfully assassinating the dictator (Crecente, 2014). It secondly could be used as propaganda to start a revolution from within the state as it is used as a source to educate both the western public and also the people of North Korea (Longenecker, 2015). “How do you explain to 24 million that their god is a murderer and a liar?” Throughout ‘The interview’ Kim-Jung Un and his leadership is constantly criticised. “He’s willing to let millions of his own people die”, “He lies to his people and they believe him” are both quotes in the movie attempting to inform the viewers of the dictator’s actions. It is important for the western viewers to gain knowledge about the dictatorships in North Korea as the United States government will need the general public’s consensus if they choose to intervene in North Korea (Walsh and Asch, 2004). It is just as crucial to educate the people of North Korea as it attempts to break their view that Kim-Jung Un is a God. The west believes that the people of North Korea has been brain washed into the supremacy of the dictator forcing them to accept his audacious rule. The movie portrays the idea that in order for North Korea to be ready for change, they need to know the truth. It is used an act of ideological warfare as it attempts to encourage disapproval towards Kim-Jung Un. ‘The interview’ also stimulates the power of the movie as it states that the beginning of revolution was “captured by nothing more than a camera”. This is irony and has underlying meanings. Though they may be talking in the movie about the interview conducted between the interviewer and the dictator, it is also used as a reference to ‘The Interview’ as the movie. Furthermore the film ends on a power ballad “Wind of Change” written by Klaus Meine, in 1989 which encapsulates the fall of communism.  “The Interview” attempts to give consensus to the public to undermine both the social and political North Korean order. “What are more destructive than nuclear weapons? Words” is another quote that conveys the idea that other mediums can be more powerful than hard power. This reiterates the idea of soft power and a ‘soft war’ fought by America against North Korea.The movie is also used as justification for American intervention by explaining that the “[the people of North Korea] want change but are too scared to act alone”. This will legitimise future American actions as it suggests interference will take place in the name of democracy; of the people, by the people, for the people.   States seek to legitimise their foreign policy, interventions and use of force to their own society and external audiences. Recent studies have given greater stress to public opinion (Holsti, 1991). The movie suggests that removing Kim-Jung Un as a supreme leader of North Korea, would be the change that the people want and that American help is therefore desired. Causes and legitimacy are critical in managing public opinion (Walsh and Asch, 2004). This medium of justification has been used before. In 1940, Charlie Chaplin released “the great dictator”, another comedy on Hitler condemning him and anti-Semitism. Modern culture was used as a source to educate the general public on America’s perception of Hitler. This also helped gain support, in the west, to eradicate Hitler for his inhumane actions.  A year later, America joined the war. The United Kingdom was also sceptical at first to view the movie, however by 1941 it was welcomed for its propaganda value. ‘The interview’ is seen as propaganda as it defaces the leader as an idiotic, cruel dictator and subliminally stimulates the need and desire to eradicate Kim-Jung Un. It is also seen as a means of warfare as it directly threatens the life of Kim-Jung Un and is also used as a soft power forcing Western ideologies of democracy into the people of North Korea (Crecente, 2014). It is evident here that media is continually used to bait reactions from countries and governments while masquerading under a satirical form. 

Concluding comments

If the West is presumably attempting to reach out to experts, artists and academics under the cover of cultural exchange then we must question the West’s right to do so (Modi, 2010). The theory of non-intervention implies that a state should not interfere in the internal affairs of another state without consent, otherwise breaking the sole principles of sovereignty and self-determination (Morgenthau, 1967). Humanitarian intervention is superseding the norm of non-intervention claiming states have a responsibility to protect its people (Forbes & Hoffman, 1993). However we must remember that this is a Western ideology derived from themes of democracy and human rights. Striving to interfere with another state in the name of humanitarian intervention is a depiction of Western imperialism. The West spends time fighting communism because one is being dictated. Ironically, dictating a state to change its political and economic view towards what the West thinks is the moral way is just as similar to a communist regime. In order to fully promote the idea of democracy and capitalism, the West needs to allow North Korea to have the freedom to govern their own political and economic system. Many film/television have been published in aid of promoting North Korean’s “ridiculous” and “inhumane” totalitarian and communist systems, It is however up the the receiver to decide whether or not the offence is an act of warfare. Many conflicts of interest stem from the United States strong sense of what is deemed to be an appropriate or correct way of living. In an age where the internet and other forms of media are used heavily it is clear that its influence on people will only continue to grow. Film and television are uses subliminally used to drop feed the audience information and act as a propaganda piece (Modi, 2010). Capitalism has inexplicably become tied in with every aspect of American life and it is not unexpected that this is reflected in film for example. However it is fundamentally clear in this instance that it has now become too closely tied with foreign policy advocating measures that have heavily influenced the global order. Under the name of modern culture, film and television are used as an act of warfare against communism.