The ruling class unites only through shared fear of the masses
Evidence
The cement of fascism, he argued, was not merely the psychic compliance of the authoritarian personality, although this was very important. It was also based on the constant and unremitting application of terror and coercion. The various components of the ruling class were themselves united only in their common fear of the masses, without which they would dissolve into a band of squabbling gangsters. — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 495
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Oppressors only experience class unity as a feared object when the oppressed revolt — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1042; Generalized fear dissolves class divisions and political distinctions — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 663; Authoritarians of opposing ideologies unite against democracy. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4283 (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- Totalitarian movements’ rank-and-file dissolved class divisions via shared fear
#exemplifies(0.82) - Generalized fear dissolves class divisions and political distinctions
#qualifies(0.78) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 663 - Ruling-class unity is forged through the organic ties between State and civil society
#contradicts(0.78) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 415 - Elites fear change because it can only threaten their status
#expands(0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 740 - Authoritarians of opposing ideologies unite against democracy.
#expands(0.72) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4283 - Survival-of-the-fittest ideology collapses when ruling security is threatened
#complicates(0.72) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 474