The Nationalization of the Masses, and the Unabated BulletEffect Theory

Abstract

　In the works of the author, Takumi Sato, who has been changed from a

German modern history scholar to a media historian, the concept of “Mass” has

crucial importance. This paper examines the role of the active masses who supported

the Nazi regime, collating the arguments of George L. Mosse, The

nationalization of the masses; political symbolism and mass movements in Germany

from the Napoleonic wars through the Third Reich （1975＝1994） and

Takumi Sato, The Fascist Public Sphere; Media Studies of Total War （2018）.

The Nazi regime did not succeed due to manipulation of the masses through

propaganda, but was instead supported by voluntary movements by the masses

for national consensus building. From this viewpoint, the framework of media

studies on the fascist movements should be changed from “Nazi propaganda” to

“Nazi public relations.” As an outstanding analysis during the time of Nazi propaganda,

Serge Chakotin, The Rape of the Masses; The Psychology of Totalitarian

Political Propaganda （1939） can be reread. In recent years, the book has

been republished and translated around the world, including an edition in Japanese（

2019）. What does the revival of this book mean? It shows that the bullet

effect theory functions as an excuse for the active masses who take part in the

political public sphere. Theoretically, the bullet effect theory was denied in the

1950s by the limited effect theory. However, it is thought that its popularity has

not abated because of the support by the nationalized masses in the information

society.