"Divide and Rule" Is Not an Obsolete Tactic—It Is More Effective Than Ever
Until twenty years ago, the information that reached us was controlled by politicians and rulers who persuaded the masses as they saw fit. Today, on social media, so much information floods in that it often drowns out the truth. Everything else, even if it were true, was labeled a "conspiracy." And anyone who spoke or wrote inconveniently was considered unstable.
In reality, "divide and rule" is used in political and religious contexts. Everyone knows that many conflicts are, in fact, geopolitical projects. Security services and foreign interests finance radical groups to create an enemy. The goal is for people to fear their neighbors because of their faith, instead of uniting against common economic problems.
Parties feed on people's emotions. When we are emotionally engaged in hating the "other party or religion," we lose the ability to control the government. When anger begins, we lose control.
Every war in history is a battle for territory, resources, and trade routes. The average person (whether in Asia, Africa, or Europe) simply wants a peaceful life and security.
Theft from the Taxpayer
Instead of investing tax money in modern infrastructure, education, and healthcare, we direct it toward military budgets. This is a legalized way of transferring public resources into private hands by maintaining artificially created conflicts.
In this day and age, algorithms do the work of politicians. They enclose us in information bubbles where we only see what annoys us or confirms our prejudices. Thus, "division" becomes automated and constant.
Today, the method is more subtle: instead of silencing us, they give us too many reasons to hate one another.
One summer day, when the heat increased thirst, a lion and a boar came to a small spring to get a drink. They argued about who would drink first. They became enraged and fought to the death. At one point, they stepped back to rest and noticed vultures waiting for one of them to fall so they could eat him. Then they stopped their enmity, saying to each other:
ReplyDelete— It is better to become friends than to serve as food for ravens and vultures.
It is good to end bad enmities and rivalries, because they bring a fatal end to everyone.
"Divide and conquer" is a wise rule, but "unite and govern" is better.
ReplyDeleteJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.
ReplyDeleteBalthazar Gracian
I use not only all the mind I have but also all the mind I can borrow.
ReplyDeleteWoodrow Wilson
Divide and rule (Latin: divide et impera) is a principle of state power, often used by governments of countries consisting of heterogeneous parts, according to which the best method of governing such a country is to incite and exploit the enmity between the separate groups.
ReplyDeleteIn a broader sense, it is a tactic (often covert) of creating, intensifying, and exploiting contradictions, differences, or disagreements between two or more parties in order to control them. It is often used by the weaker minority to rule the majority.
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. (Matthew 12:25)
ReplyDeleteThe most efficient way of utilizing human energy is through organized competition, which, through specialization and social control, is at the same time organized cooperation. - Charles Cooley
ReplyDeleteDuring the Nuremberg trials, Hermann Göring gave an interview to psychologist Gustav Gilbert and said:
ReplyDelete“Of course the people do not want war. Why would a poor farmer risk his life in a war when the best he can hope for is to return to his farm safe and sound?
Of course the people do not want war. Nobody wants war – not in Russia, not in England, not in America, not even in Germany. That much is obvious.
But in the end it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy. And it is always easy to drag the people along with them – whether it is a democracy, a communist state, a parliament or a fascist dictatorship.”
Gilbert countered:
“But there is one difference, in a democracy – the people have a voice through their elected representatives.”
To which Göring replies:
“That is very nice, but whether the people have a voice or not, they can always be led to do what the leaders want.
That is easy.
All you have to do is tell them they are under attack and denounce the pacifists as lacking patriotism and as putting the country in danger.
It works the same way in every country... ”
— Nuremberg Diary, April 18, 1946
Sound familiar??????