Using Propaganda for Good Cause

The End Justifies the Means

What if a single lie could prevent a city from burning?

Propaganda, often seen as a tool of manipulation, has a lesser-known side: it can save lives, unite nations, and drive progress.

While the word conjures images of deceit, history shows moments where carefully crafted messages served noble causes.

From averting riots to empowering communities, propaganda has been used for good when the stakes were high.

This post explores one such moment in India’s history—and asks: when the outcome is salvation, does it matter how we get there?

Let’s start with a story from 1993 Bombay, where a leader’s deception kept a city from tearing itself apart.

Averting Riots During the 1993 Bombay Bombings

In March 1993, Bombay was a tinderbox.

Twelve bomb blasts, orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI, ripped through the city, killing over 250 people.

The attackers' goal was to provoke Hindu outrage and ignite riots against Muslim communities. Weapons like AK-47s had already been placed in sensitive neighborhoods, ready to escalate the violence.

Amid the chaos, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Sharad Pawar, made a bold move. He announced that one of the bombings had targeted a mosque—a lie.

This deliberate misinformation created ambiguity. By suggesting a mosque was attacked, Pawar planted doubt about who was responsible, buying time to stop retaliation.

Police were deployed quickly. Community leaders stepped in. The city held its breath.

And no riots erupted.

Bombay, now Mumbai, stood firm, defying the ISI’s playbook. Pawar’s tactic, ethically murky, almost certainly saved thousands of lives. It’s a striking example of propaganda—strategic messaging with a purpose—being used for the greater good.

Historical Examples of Propaganda for Good

Pawar’s quick thinking isn't an isolated case.

History is full of moments where propaganda, despite its manipulative edge, helped societies survive, heal, or move forward.

Here are five examples where the right message changed everything.

U.S. Liberty Bond Campaigns (1917–1918)

During World War I, the U.S. needed massive funding to support the Allies.

The Committee on Public Information launched a media blitz—posters of Uncle Sam, patriotic films, and speeches in theaters urging citizens to buy Liberty Bonds.

The campaign raised $17 billion.

It wasn’t just about funding the war. It pulled Americans into a shared mission and sense of sacrifice.

Rosie the Riveter Campaign (1942–1945)

World War II left U.S. factories critically short-staffed.

The “Rosie the Riveter” campaign—with its iconic "We Can Do It" poster—reframed industrial labor as patriotic duty for women.

Radio spots, magazine ads, and posters depicted women building planes and tanks.

Millions answered the call, boosting production and reshaping gender roles permanently.

U.S. Anti-Racism Campaigns (1940s–1950s)

As America fought fascism abroad, it had to reckon with racism at home.

Posters like "Help Keep Your School All-American," featuring Superman, encouraged children to embrace racial unity.

These campaigns didn’t erase racism—but they nudged public attitudes, setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement.

Chinese Literacy Campaigns (1950s–1960s)

After 1949, China faced overwhelming illiteracy.

The government flooded villages with posters showing joyful students and slogans promoting education.

Literacy rose from 20% to over 65% by the 1980s. A propaganda campaign helped lay the foundation for China’s future development.

British "Keep Calm and Carry On" Campaign (1939)

As Nazi bombs loomed over Britain, the government printed the now-famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters.

Though rarely seen during the war, the message embodied quiet endurance.

It steadied public morale during the Blitz—and decades later, became a global symbol of resilience.

Focus on the End, Not the Means

From Sharad Pawar’s tactical lie to posters that rallied nations, these stories reveal propaganda’s complicated legacy.

Each case involved some level of manipulation—whether patriotic exaggeration, selective truth, or deliberate deception.

But the outcomes were clear.

Lives were saved.

Societies were strengthened.

Progress took root.

When evaluating these moments, the real question isn’t how the story was crafted.

It’s what the story achieved.

Sometimes, the method matters less than the outcome.

And when survival is at stake, the end can justify the means.