I can just see you asking this as I recommend that you watch a four-hour documentary. But this BBC documentary is that important. If you want to understand how the world works, at least the part of the world I call Babylon the Great, then invest the time.
Originally I had commentary of each of the four parts when I first recommended the series. The original links no longer work, so the one link below is the one you will have to use if you watch. If you want to know my understanding of the documentary, click the following links.
This is a different Bernays
The beloved editor of the Prophecy Podcast blog, Pam Dewey, has also written about these issues, and the "star" of the documentary, Edward Bernays. Click here for her commentary.
The Wizard of Adz
If this is the first time you have thought about these issues, this documentary could literally change how you look at the world.