ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how US politicians and white supremacists use dog whistles to send messages to their supporters. This type of coded language has the effect of mind engineering or brainwashing its listeners as the propaganda effect of the dog whistles appeals to the subconscious fears and desires of people. By drawing upon research in the social sciences and psychology, the current chapter utilizes the concept of nostalgia to reveal how both conservative politicians and white supremacists use dog whistle politics to gain support and power. This framework helps investigate people’s inaccurate visions of the past and of history that enable mind engineering. The research assessed speeches, Tweets, media records, and manuscripts, by employing a simplified type of critical discourse analysis. The findings uncover the function of dog whistle politics and the strategies used to achieve its goals in the current political atmosphere.
