''In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, it is the rule." Fredrich Nietzsche
One of the central challenges in human history is the persistence of “us vs. them” mentalities. These divisions are often deeply ingrained in culture, politics, and social structures. While some may strive for unity, the majority often seem to cling to separations based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, or ideology. This mindset has perpetuated many of the darkest chapters in history.
The Roots of “Us vs. Them” Mentalities
Tribalism and In-Group Favoritism: From an evolutionary perspective, humans have evolved to favor their in-group for survival, often leading to suspicion or hostility toward outsiders. While this may have had adaptive value in early human history, it now manifests in harmful ways, such as nationalism, xenophobia, and racism.
Source: “The Social Animal” by Elliot Aronson explores the psychology behind in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination, showing that humans are wired to create such distinctions, even when no tangible difference exists between groups.
Political and Economic Systems: Throughout history, many political and economic systems have deliberately encouraged division to maintain power. Whether through patriotism, nationalism, colonialism, or imperialism, leaders have often used the “us vs. them” rhetoric to unite their people against an external enemy or to justify violence and exploitation.
Source: “The Wages of Destruction” by Adam Tooze looks at how economic and political structures have historically relied on creating enemies, both internal and external, to maintain control.
Social and Religious Divisions: Religion, ethnicity, and culture often contribute to these divisions. Whether it’s the “chosen people” rhetoric in various religious traditions or racial purity ideologies, these cultural constructs help justify exclusion and even violence toward those deemed “other.”
Source: “The Righteous Mind” by Jonathan Haidt delves into the moral foundations that drive people to form strong group identities and maintain barriers between them and others.
Challenges in Overcoming “Us vs. Them”
Fear and Mistrust: Fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar is one of the strongest emotional drivers of exclusion. This fear often gets exploited by political figures, media outlets, and even religious leaders who benefit from dividing people for their own gain.
Source: Studies on group dynamics, such as “The Psychology of Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation” by Peter G. Coleman, show how fear and perceived threats can fuel the us-vs-them mentality and escalate conflicts.
Historical Grievances: Long-standing conflicts and historical grievances often prevent meaningful reconciliation between groups. For example, the impact of colonialism, slavery, and various ethnic or religious wars creates deep scars that can last for generations, making it harder for individuals to see each other as part of a common human experience.
Source: “The International Human Rights Movement” by Aryeh Neier discusses how historical injustices—such as the Holocaust or apartheid—continue to shape collective memory and identity, fueling division even long after the events themselves.
Nationalism: Nationalism is a powerful force that highlights divisions. While it can create an unhealthy solidarity within a nation, it also risks turning that solidarity into an exclusionary force that labels anyone outside the national identity as “other.”
Source: “Nationalism and Its Alternatives” by John Hutchinson explores how nationalism can both unify and divide, creating an “us” that excludes those who do not fit the narrow criteria of national belonging.
Why Overcoming “Us vs. Them” is Hard
Even with awareness of history and human psychology, overcoming these entrenched mentalities remains a monumental challenge. Cultural, political, and psychological factors all play a role in perpetuating division. The key question is whether humans, as a collective, can transcend these divisions for a more unified global society.
However, the road to unity is not without hope. While it may seem like division is the natural state, there are countervailing forces in history that show humanity’s potential for collaboration and commonality.
Source: “The Better Angels of Our Nature” by Steven Pinker offers a somewhat optimistic view of human progress, arguing that, over time, violence and conflict have actually decreased due to the spread of empathy, trade, and international cooperation, even as we continue to face challenges.
Conclusion: Striving for a Shared Humanity
Many continue to hold on to “us vs. them” dynamics despite the potential for a more unified world. Yet, history shows that collective action, when motivated by shared humanity and global cooperation, can overcome these divides. The question remains whether this potential can outweigh the forces that seek to maintain separation. Overcoming this inherent division requires continual effort, and it’s up to us, individually and collectively, to shape how future generations will define “us.”
In the end, acknowledging our shared humanity, and working toward breaking down unnecessary barriers between groups such us constructed identities based on fiction(religious, national, ethnic etc.), might be one of the most challenging but necessary tasks to create a more just and peaceful world.