Comunicação estratégica na Segunda Guerra Mundial: o legado de Winston Churchill e a antecipação dos princípios de James Farwell (set.1939 - out.1940)

Abstract

This dissertation examines Strategic Communication in Military Operations, investigating Winston Churchill's communicational performance between September 1939 and October 1940, a critical phase of World War II. The central objective is to verify to what extent Churchill's practices anticipated the principles of Strategic Communication, as later systematized by James Farwell. The study analyzes the British leader's public messages, directed at domestic and international audiences, in the context of preparing for and conducting the Battle of Britain. The methodology employed is descriptive and comparative, confronting Farwell's theory with the historical reality observed in Churchill's speeches, symbolic gestures, and institutional actions. The analysis revealed that Churchill employed a complex and articulated communicational strategy which, although predating the formalization of Farwell's concepts, notably aligns with the pillars of Psychological Operations, Public Affairs, and Public Diplomacy. It was possible to identify that his speeches, full of inspiring rhetoric and symbols of resilience, acted as powerful tools for raising domestic morale and demoralizing the enemy. In parallel, the constant management of public image and the use of contemporary media, especially radio, to maintain a direct and emotional connection with the British population, evidenced his Public Affairs. Finally, the pursuit of support from neutral nations, such as the United States, and the strengthening of alliances through narratives defending democratic values and civilization, demonstrate a significant application of Public Diplomacy. It is concluded that Churchill's communicational performance anticipated many fundamentals of modern Strategic Communication. His political intuition and mastery of oratory allowed for the coordination of messages to different audiences, the management of perception, and the use of communication as a tool of power, revealing a practical and advanced understanding of the subject. The identification of this historical anticipation signals the validity and universality of certain principles of Strategic Communication, indicating the permanence of communication as an instrument of power in conflict contexts.