In the early 1970s social psychologist Henri Tajfel set out to study the minimal conditions required for discrimination to occur between groups of humans. In his tests he discovered that rivalries could be created in a very short time by sorting individuals by trivial criteria (such as one’s musical preferences or hair color). Groups formed by such trivia would almost immediately begin to display prejudice against those on the other side (out-group), and treat those in the same category (in-group) more favorably. The phenomenon activated even when the divisions were totally arbitrary. Divide a group by coin toss and tribal dynamics manifest. Tajfel referred to this principle as the “minimal group paradigm”.
This phenomenon takes countless forms: political partisanship, gangs, nationalism, cults, religions, even team sports… all are expressions of the same psychology. Group identity is a fundamental human need. When that need is not met, replacements always emerge.
Homo sapiens sapiens is a social animal. Tribes and nation states are human analogues of a pack. This instinct predates humanity and will persist. Failure to account for it invites tragedy.
Throughout history unscrupulous leaders have unified nations by drawing attention to external threats or internal minorities (in-group is always strengthened by a hostile out-group). If a proper enemy doesn’t exist, one can be created. The same population can be fractured by pitting internal factions against each other (divide and conquer). Opposition is meaningless if it cannot coordinate or organize.
It has been said that all that is needed for evil to prevail is that is needed for the good to do nothing, but this isn’t exactly true. The only way the good guys ever defeat fascism is through strong, positive leadership.