The Principles of War Propaganda by Anne Morelli in cooperation with ATTAC East Belgium

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, a public lecture by Anne Morelli from the Free University of Brussels (ULB) will take place at IKOB – Museum of Contemporary Art in Eupen.

Anne Morelli is an emeritus professor of history and an author. The historian taught at ULB, among other subjects, historiography, the history of religions, and history didactics. Morelli is internationally known for her work on political communication, war rhetoric, and the manipulation of public opinion. On these topics, she wrote the book “The Principles of War Propaganda”, which has been translated into numerous languages. It explores the mechanisms, strategies, and effects of propaganda in conflicts. She will also address this topic in her lecture, not only looking at the past but also building bridges to current conflicts such as the war in Gaza and the war in Ukraine.

Propaganda does not only exist in dictatorships, but also in democracies. It is not a phenomenon of the past – quite the contrary: today, it appears in the form of disinformation, fake news, framing, or algorithmically amplified messages, often more subtle but no less effective. Today, it is also more commonly referred to as “public relations” or “public affairs.”

Those who understand the mechanisms of opinion manipulation are less likely to believe everything they are told – and this is more important than ever today. Democratic societies depend on citizens forming informed and critical opinions. Propaganda undermines this by appealing to emotions rather than arguments. Anyone familiar with common techniques of influence (simplification, enemy images, emotional language, selective facts) can more easily recognize when information is distorted or instrumentalized – in politics, the media, or social networks.

In this sense, the lecture evening is also intended as a contribution to critical political education. Anne Morelli will speak in her native French at IKOB – Museum; a German translation will be provided.

The lecture will also open an exhibition on war propaganda by the War Heritage Institute, which will be on display at IKOB until May 3 and provides deeper historical and societal context to the topic.

Both the lecture and the two-week exhibition are organized by Attac DG, Miteinander Teilen, Die Lupe, and Jugendinfo in cooperation with IKOB.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. at IKOB in Eupen (Rotenberg 12/B). Admission starts at 6:30 p.m. No prior registration is required. Admission is free.

More information about the accompanying exhibition can be found here.