openpolitics.com

Divide and Rule

>> Wikipedia: Divide and Rule

• a way of keeping yourself in a position of power by causing disagreements among other people so they are unable to oppose you.
• the policy of not allowing subject peoples or factions to make common cause

1) Tactics:

a) Polarizing Society:

1. A wedge issue  (wikipedia)  is a political or social issue, often of a controversial or divisive nature, which splits apart a demographic or population group. Wedge issues can be advertised or publicly aired in an attempt to strengthen the unity of a population, with the goal of enticing polarized individuals to give support to an opponent or to withdraw their support entirely out of disillusionment. The use of wedge issues gives rise to wedge politics. Wedge issues are also known as hot-button or third-rail issues.
2. Racism in the US arose as a way to divide white and black workers, preventing them from uniting for their mutual benefit. (background | who is “white” )
3. Increasing Diversity: “In 1937, the foreman of the Griffen Ranch [said that] Last year our Hindu workers struck. So this year we mixed half Mexicans in with them, and we aren’t having any labor trouble” (Source, page 434)
4. Segmented Media:  Roger Ailes pioneered the design of partisan news at Fox.  This model has now taken on a life of its own, with each group profiting off “engagement” for stories that skewer the other side.

b) Granting special benefit or blame

1. Playing One off Against One Another: Corporations (like Amazon) buy off opposition by getting governments to compete for corporate jobs and tax revenue.  The cooperating governments get  rewarded with a disproportionate amount of the revenue, while the losing governments get less or nothing. | The British did this in India by setting the Muslims and Hindis against each other.
2. Scapegoating: the act of blaming a person or group for something bad that has happened or that someone else has done.  (Often the scapegoat is in a minority position.)

c) Removing Choice

1. Powerless, In “Learned helplessness” people give up because they believe they lack the ability to achieve goals.  — “There is nothing I can do.” mentality.
2. There is “Only One (Approved) Choice” — (And how is this a choice?)
3. The Lesser Evil: You may not like either choice, but you have to choose one, even if it is bad

2) History:

• The “Divide and Rule” strategy is commonly used by corporate psychopaths and was used by
  • the Romans, Machiavelli, Napoleon, and the British.

3) Academic Research:

• Alder, Simon and Wang, Yikai, Divide and Rule: How Political Elites Polarize Society (June 13, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3769435 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3769435
• Posner, Eric A., Spier, Kathryn E., and Vermuele, Adrian.  Divide and Conquer.