Last week, Rutte urged NATO allies to scale up their defense capabilities in order to prevent a war with Russia. Panic talk and warmongering? Some think so, calling Rutte's approach and words exaggerated and too harsh. Etienne Augé, communication scientist and researcher at ESHCC, puts this into perspective in Trouw, calling the speech effective and realistic.
Augé, who specialises in propaganda in times of war and peace, explains that Rutte mainly wants to explain how to stop a war before it starts. ‘He doesn't say: we're going to have a war and it's going to be terrible. No, he says we have to prepare ourselves. And between the lines, he says we can no longer rely on the Americans.’
It is Rutte's job to secure more support and funding for defence, especially given Russia's aggressive behaviour. According to Augé, it would only be propaganda if Rutte were to exaggerate or deliberately use incorrect figures. He explains that Rutte is influenced by the fact that the Dutch still live under the illusion of security. Rutte may be frightening people, but above all he is making them aware. Countries such as France, Germany and Poland are more accustomed to this kind of language and are less alarmed by it. ‘His language was calm and explanatory; he did not exaggerate or mention Armageddon,’ says Etienne Augé.
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Read the full Trouw article, which also features comments from debate specialist and professor of public administration at TU Delft Hans de Bruijn (behind paywal and in Dutch).
