Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Three ways of looking at someone:
- An individual
- A member of a group
- A member of the larger community (whether it's the nation, or even humanity)
The second category is the most problematic for a democracy for two reasons:
1) It encourages us to think of others as members of a group and not as unique individuals. So George is first and foremost an Asian and not George. Cherryl is first and foremost a woman and not Cherryl. Asha is first and foremost a Muslim and not Asha.
2) While it makes people in the In Group feel stronger and more secure, it also fosters conflict between groups and makes it easier to dehumanize those in the Out Group. Many ostensibly democratic countries are dysfunctional because the population is divided into hostile groups who place higher loyalty on those tribal, ethnic, or religious identities than on their identities as citizens.
And no, that isn't just the complacency of a 'privileged' white male. I first heard that formulation expressed by Neil Bisoondath, a Canadian author of East Indian heritage who is an outspoken critic of identity politics. |
But not always.
I've had this discussion before, but tribalism is a key positive factor in our evolution. Thinking as the individual can easily be argued as more problematic (social isolation, selfishness, ineffectiveness of herd benefits, lower brain function, lower rates of success within society).
The fact is, actually, the bigger the group, the bigger benefit to both the individual and to society itself. Tribalism is a natural part of the human make-up which has evolved, but is going absolutely nowhere. So when anyone scoffs and says "Yuck, tribalism!" well, sorry, but it's what got you here and it's what has you here on this message board saying that very thing. Is it problematic? Sure. But individualism is more so, and I'd argue nationalism is about the same.
Tribalism doesn't automatically breed hostility. You're thinking of individualism. Tribalism is simply the natural gathering of people with the same individual goals/desires.
The more you think of the whole, the more functional society is.