The documentary presents an interesting thesis on the evolution of democracy in the 20th century. It tracks the idea that originated with Sigmund Freud and his nephew Edward Bernays, that successful business and government is that which manages to best respond to the people's unconscious human desires and needs. The political ramifications of this idea have been some of the major stories of the 20th century. Bernays himself wrote in Propaganda, published in 1928:
"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organised habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country... it is the intelligent minorities which need to make use of propaganda continuously and systematically".
Bernays' exploits with United Fruit are discussed at considerable length in Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer's book on the 1954 coup in Guatemala, Bitter Fruit in their chapter 'Advertisments for myself' (p.79-97).
Adam Curtis shows how democracy in the US and UK has been managed (or manipulated and distorted depending on your view point). Certainly, it's hard to argue anything other than the latter in the case of the 1954 coup in Guatemala. Bernays himself, the so-called father of PR, never saw much PR value for himself in talking about what he did in Guatemala. That silence coming from a spin doctor, speaks volumes.
Background
You can see the whole series of The Century of the Self here.
