Tribalism is an atavism, but it seems to be wired into many humans, who can see only bad in people who are tribal outsiders.
In this AIER article, Barry Brownstein writes about the tragic case of Cyprus. For centuries, the Greeks and Turks who lived on that island peacefully coexisted. Referring to a poignant book by Elif Shafak, he writes, “As open conflict began in the 1950s, Shafak related, British ‘experts believed . . . there was no need to fear mayhem and bloodshed because how could there be a civil war on such a pretty, picturesque island of blooming flowers and rolling hills?’ Those pundits wondered, how could ‘cultivated’ and ‘civilized people . . . do anything violent?’ The answers to such questions, as always, point to the inculcation of mistaken ideas.”
In the fighting that ensued, many thousands were killed and the once-thriving economy of the island was ripped apart. Tribalism overcame trade and cooperation, bringing misery to all but a few — the tribal “leaders.”
What does this have to do with contemporary America? A lot. Brownstein concludes, “As destructive as tribal Cypriot leaders then, current politicians, educators, and others encourage Americans to adopt tribal identities. It ended badly in Cyprus. The outcome of tribalist mindsets dividing Americans may differ only in degree.”
He’s right.