Historical action requires welding dispersed wills into one cultural-social unity.

Evidence

What does a great empire do when faced with imminent invasion and destruction? It can rearm at home and seek allies abroad; but more cunningly it can revisit its history to forge a myth that will unite the people and carry them through to victory, a myth that will demonstrate to everyone that their country has been specially chosen by history to uphold justice and righteousness. It is what the French did in 1914 and the British in 1940. In such circumstances, history reimagined can be a very powerful weapon. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1045 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Historical myths can unite people during crises. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1045; Historical discourse functioned as an instrument forged in struggles over power. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 151; A cultural tradition can substitute for a weak tradition of national political unity (+1 more)

Related

• Historical myths can unite people during crises. (similarity 0.86)
• Historical acts require a common cultural-social worldview unifying dispersed individual wills (similarity 0.82)
• The same mechanism that unites society also drives its historical change (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Hegemony builds collective will by articulating differences, not erasing them #complicates (0.85)
• Historical myths can unite people during crises. #exemplifies (0.82) — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1045
• A cultural tradition can substitute for a weak tradition of national political unity #exemplifies (0.78)
• Historical discourse functioned as an instrument forged in struggles over power. #complicates (0.75) — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 151