To become a successful political communicator (and a savvy political consumer), it is essential to know the elements of social influence, what works, and why. Strategic Political Communication provides an introduction to persuasion, social influence, and propaganda tactics, focusing on political communication. This rich, well-documented work looks at the power of language, the importance of targeting a specific audience, and the significance of interpersonal relationships, among other key issues. It further examines propaganda in order to understand how communicators can best exercise influence in contemporary society.

Karen Johnson-Cartee is professor of advertising, public relations, and communication studies at the University of Alabama. Gary A. Copeland is professor of telecommunication, film, and communication studies at the University of Alabama.

Chapter 1 1. In Defense of Social Influence and Social Marketers
Chapter 2 2. Social Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior and Social Influence
Chapter 3 3. Social Influence Models
Chapter 4 4. Identifying and Targeting Those You Want to Influence
Chapter 5 5. The Individual in a Mass-Mediated World
Chapter 6 6. Propaganda Strategies
Chapter 7 7. Propaganda Tactics and Principles
Part 8 Appendix A: The Personality Strength (PS) Scale and Weighting
Part 9 Appendix B: Goebbels's Propaganda Machine
Part 10 References
Part 11 Index
Part 12 About the Authors