Course Description

We call them spin doctors, clandestine propagandists or simply mass manipulators. Over the past century, using the latest sciences and technologies at their disposal, they have not only deeply transformed politics, but all aspects of our lives in society, while influencing the behaviors of millions. The portraits of some of the 20th and 21st greatest masters of manipulation, from Goebbels to Walt Disney, not to mention the likes of Edward Bernays, the man who invented the concept of mass manipulation, Lin Biao (Mao’s little Red Book), Steve Bannon, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and many more. Well known to the public or not, they all contributed, for better or worse, in shaping our world.

Course Director

Olivier Courteaux
Olivier Courteaux holds a Doctorate in History from the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne in the history of 20th century international relations with an emphasis on conflicts. He has taught at various institutions including York University/Glendon College, TMU (Ryerson) and the Royal Military College, Kingston. He is the author of many books including The War on Terror: Canada’s Dilemma, and Canada Between Vichy and De Gaulle, 1940-1945.

Olivier Courteaux

Term and Time

Fall 2025 – starting September
12:50 pm on Friday afternoon
Room TBA in York Hall

Course Outline

Two weeks before the course starts, you can download a printable PDF giving the 10-week detailed course outline.

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Lecture Notes

Links to resources such as additional reading or play lists are provided here as the Course Director makes them available during term. Like the course outline, lecture notes open in a new browser tab so that you can download and print them.

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