This course looks at deception in public life.  It considers the nature of lying in public, the strategies used to deceive others, techniques for seeing through deceit, the reasons why many people seem to be pleased to be deceived, and the social and political consequences of deception. The course is interdisciplinary, with a core element of history. The focus is on the Asia-Pacific region, but topics and cases are also drawn from other parts of the world. We will examine the political circumstances in which untruth is an attractive strategy, the potential benefits and costs which it brings, and the shadowy lines between outright lies, distortion, misrepresentation, propaganda and spin. We will examine the manipulation both of particular events and of world views though indoctrination and propaganda, all with  sideways attention to the philosophical problem of determining what might constitute truth. We pay special attention to conspiracy as a form of lie which directly affects politics and to propaganda as a complex strategy for political manipulation. The course will consist of both theoretical lectures and lectures (some by guest lecturers) devoted to particular cases. Most of the (limited) theoretical writing about deception, conspiracy and propaganda is based on Western examples.  A major aim of this course is to enrich this literature by drawing on events and experiences from the Asia-Pacific region.

One essay 3500 words (60%), short outline essay 400-500 words (10%), annotated bibliography (10%), class participation (20%).

6 university courses (36 units).

Prior assumed knowledge: some studies in Asian Studies, Arts or Law.