The state recovered lost social direction by constructing a unified internal enemy

Evidence

Since discord unfolds its negative, destructive character between particular individuals, we naively conclude that it must have the same effect on the total group. In reality, however, something which is negative and damaging between individuals if it is considered in isolation and as aiming in a particular direction, does not necessarily have the same effect within the total relationship of these individuals. For a very different picture emerges when we view the conflict in conjunction with other interactions not affected by it. The negative and dualistic elements play an entirely positive role in this more comprehensive picture, despite the destruction they may work on particular relations. All this is very obvious in the competition of individuals within an economic unit. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 280 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Within the realms of culture and society, conflict is tonic and constructive. The different worlds of culture are not really antagonistic to one another; they conflict only insofar as they compete for attention and resources. The irreconcilable differences among them are the source of the greatest richness and profundity in life. Similarly, the conflicts among individuals and between different formal principles are the preconditions for a determinate structure in society. They give society texture, durability, and resilience. The desire for a social world of perfect harmony is thus fundamentally misguided. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 93 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

The end goal is to win consent for an imperial agenda through a process that orchestrates fear of the enemy within and preempts criticisms of empire-building. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 491 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A government can manufacture crisis to construct its own people as enemy — , The Braided Reading EPUB: 5-Year…, 111; Fear of an internal enemy is manufactured to secure consent for empire — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 491; Attacks on out-groups divert attention from real crises and expand state power — Carl W. Ernst, Islamophobia in America_ The Anatomy of…, 43 (+3 more)

Related

• Conflict destructive at one level can integrate the larger group (similarity 0.83)
• Irreconcilable conflict gives society its texture, durability, and resilience (similarity 0.81)
• Fear of an internal enemy is manufactured to secure consent for empire (similarity 0.81)
• A government can manufacture crisis to construct its own people as enemy (similarity 0.79)
• Order inside groups mirrors the same mutual-restraint mechanism as between groups (similarity 0.78)
• A party can function as a general ideology superintending scattered rival groups (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Conflict destructive at one level can integrate the larger group #exemplifies (0.82) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 280
• Irreconcilable conflict gives society its texture, durability, and resilience #exemplifies (0.78) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 93
• Fear of an internal enemy is manufactured to secure consent for empire #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 491
• Attacks on out-groups divert attention from real crises and expand state power #complicates (0.55) — Carl W. Ernst, Islamophobia in America_ The Anatomy of…, 43