Elite party entrepreneurs manufacture a victimhood narrative to mobilize ethnic solidarity

Evidence

Sinhala Urumaya (SU) was organized in April 2000 under the pretence that the economic and political fortunes of the Sinhalese people were endangered. Party founders argued that while the Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, and Muslims all had political parties along ethnic lines, the Sinhalese alone did not. Party leaders claimed they were thus forced to organize “to prevent the ultimate betrayal of the Sinhalese people” and promised to ensure that the “aspirations of the majority Sinhalese … [will] take precedence over … minorities such as the Tamils” (The Island 2000). — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 166

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s broader question about enmity being manufactured rather than primordial — the SU’s founding rationale explicitly fabricates a threat (that Sinhalese alone lack a party) to rally the majority. — connects to: Each Yugoslav party claimed a civilizational mission and victimhood identity — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 751; Historical victimhood narratives can be mobilized to incite new genocides — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 282; Objectively powerful groups claim victim status by merging current and past enemies — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 2146 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Each Yugoslav party claimed a civilizational mission and victimhood identity #exemplifies (0.85) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 751
• Objectively powerful groups claim victim status by merging current and past enemies #corroborates (0.82) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 2146
• Negative emotions bind narratives of victimhood and consolidate ingroup identity. #expands (0.80) — R. C. Tripathi, R. Kumar, and V. N. Tripathi, When the Advantaged Feel Victimised, 127
• Historical victimhood narratives can be mobilized to incite new genocides #expands (0.75) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 282