Modern politicians actively map themselves onto mythic warrior-kings to claim legitimacy
Evidence
Toward the end of 2006, a massive cardboard cut-out of Rajapakse was even erected at the junction at Maradana, Colombo, proclaiming, “Our President, Our Leader; He is Next to King Dutugemenu.” — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 82
Categorization
- CANDY: A striking, concrete image: a life-size cardboard Rajapakse as reincarnated ancient warrior-king at a busy junction.
- XREF: connects to: States continuously recraft mythologies to legitimize their power; Political myths work by embodying collective will in a concrete individual. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 596; Nation-states fabricate founding myths to legitimate class rule — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 872 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- States continuously recraft mythologies to legitimize their power
#corroborates(0.85) - Political myths work by embodying collective will in a concrete individual.
#expands(0.80) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 596 - Nation-states fabricate founding myths to legitimate class rule
#corroborates(0.80) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 872 - Nation-state formation generates founding myths that legitimate ruling-class orders
#corroborates(0.80) - Nationalist founding myths are actively imagined into a people’s authentic self-understanding.
#corroborates(0.72) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 480