Widespread individual exit strategies undermine collective mobilization and perpetuate subordinate status.

Evidence

First, to the extent that the objective and the subjective prohibitions to “passing” are weak (see our earlier discussion of the “social mobility” system of beliefs), low status may tend, in conditions of unsatisfactory social identity, to promote the widespread adoption of individual mobility strategies, or at least initial attempts to make use of these strategies. Insofar as individual mobility implies disidentification, it will tend to loosen the cohesiveness of the subordinate group. This weakening of subjective attachment to the in-group among its members will tend: (a) to blur the perception of distinct group interests corresponding to the distinct group identity; and (b) to create obstacles to mobilizing group members for collective action over their common interests. Thus, the low morale that follows from negative social identity can set in motion disintegrative processes that, in the long run, may hinder a change in the group status. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2747

Categorization

• XREF: This is a mechanism-level account of why individual ‘strategic’ identity exit fails collectively — directly relevant to whether strategic essentialism is available collectively or only to individuals (question of Spivak and group subjectivity). — connects to: Individual resistance is too weak to counter coercive organizational pressure; Easy individual mobility weakens subordinate-group solidarity and collective action — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2747; The Great Resignation produced individual exit rather than collective worker power — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization…, 102 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Easy individual mobility weakens subordinate-group solidarity and collective action #corroborates (0.95) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2747
• The Great Resignation produced individual exit rather than collective worker power #exemplifies (0.90) — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics, 102
• Rational individual self-interest can cumulatively destroy shared collective resources. #corroborates (0.78)
• Advanced capitalism generates a false conviction of individual centrality that blocks collective action #qualifies (0.78) — Donna Landry and Gerald MacLean, The Spivak Reader, 808
• Individual resistance is too weak to counter coercive organizational pressure #corroborates (0.72)