Divide and Conquer – Don’t we really learn from history?
The answer is emphatically NO.
The age-old strategy of "divide and conquer" has been used successfully by many empires throughout history. Simply put, it involves exploiting or creating divisions to weaken and control opposing groups. Does this remind you of something? I'll keep this article short, even though we could write a book on the topic!
Historical Context
Historically, the divide and conquer strategy has been instrumental in the rise and fall of empires. The Spanish conquistadors used this method to dismantle the Aztec Empire. When Hernán Cortés arrived in Mesoamerica, he encountered a powerful but fragmented political landscape. By allying with rival tribes unhappy with Aztec dominance, Cortés was able to muster an army that, despite being vastly outnumbered, succeeded in toppling the Aztec civilization.
Similarly, the British Empire applied this strategy to establish control over India, fostering religious divisions that eventually led to the partition of India and Pakistan.
The Romans also used divide and conquer tactics to subjugate the Greek city-states and later maintain control over their vast empire. The dividing of the Gallic tribes by the much smaller Roman forces of Gaius Julius Caesar another Roman example.
However the Latin saying ‘Divide et Impera’ was not from Roman origin. It is being said that the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, used this motto to gain power over the independent Greek city states during his conquering of Greece. He played the different city states off against each other with diplomatic, marriage, political and military power.
Another examples was the Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan and his successors used divide and conquer tactics to conquer vast territories in Asia and Europe.
They would exploit existing rivalries among local rulers and tribes, often allying with one faction against another to achieve their goals.
More recently, European colonization of Africa: During the "Scramble for Africa" in the 19th century, European powers employed divide and conquer tactics to control African territories. They exploited ethnic and tribal divisions to establish control and maintain their dominance.
The breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the subsequent Balkan Wars saw various ethnic and religious groups pitted against each other in a brutal conflict. Nationalist leaders exploited existing divisions to gain power and control over territories.
These are only just a few examples of how the divide and conquer strategy has been used in the past to achieve political, military and social objectives.
I assume that by know you begin to be suspicious, asking yourself. Why on earth do I believe that today this strategy is not used anymore, since it has been proven to be effective?
Let’s draw some parallels now.
Modern-Day Parallels
Political Division
Historical Example: The Roman Empire often exploited existing rivalries among Greek city-states to maintain control.
Modern Parallel: In contemporary politics, we see similar tactics where political entities exploit existing societal divisions. For instance, political campaigns may amplify racial, religious, or ideological differences to mobilize their base, often leading to heightened tensions and societal fragmentation.
Societal Division
Historical Example: The British Empire’s strategy in India, which deepened religious divides, ultimately led to the bloody partition in 1947.
Modern Parallel: Today, societal divisions are exacerbated through media and online platforms. Social media algorithms, for instance, often create echo chambers that reinforce existing biases and deepen divisions. This is evident in the political polarization seen for example in the United States (and beyond), where media outlets and social platforms often play significant roles in shaping public opinion and intensifying divisions.
Economic Control
Historical Example: The Anglo-Normans used divide and conquer methods in Ireland to maintain control over the native population.
Modern Parallel: Economic policies and corporate practices today perpetuate economic divides. Despite our efforts, the wealth gap continues to widen, with economic policies favouring the wealthy. This economic disparity fuels societal unrest, as seen in the rise of populist movements across Europe and North America. I do not mention this as a negative, but rather as a necessity in today's context.
Let’s see some more recent examples in more detail.
More Recent Examples of Divide and Conquer
The Balkan Wars and Ethnic Conflict
Historical Example: During the 1990s, the breakup of Yugoslavia led to severe ethnic conflicts among Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, and Albanians. Political leaders used ethnic divisions to stoke nationalism and justify territorial claims, leading to wars, genocide, and the eventual fragmentation of the region into several smaller states.
Modern Parallel: The manipulation of ethnic and nationalistic sentiments continues in various parts of the world. For instance, in Myanmar, the Rohingya crisis has been fuelled by ethnic divisions and governmental policies that exploit these tensions. We have also recently seen some efforts to divide the United Kingdom.
Rwandan Genocide
Historical Example: In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the most horrific genocides in recent history. The divide and conquer strategy was evident as colonial powers had previously exacerbated ethnic divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi populations. When conflict arose, these deep-seated divisions were exploited, leading to the mass slaughter of Tutsis by Hutu extremists.
Modern Parallel: Ethnic divisions and historical grievances continue to be exploited in various conflicts around the world, such as the ongoing tensions between different ethnic groups in South Sudan.
Brexit and European Union Division
Historical Example: The British Empire’s long history of dividing to rule can be seen in the recent political manoeuvrings around Brexit. Political leaders capitalized on nationalistic sentiments and divisions within the UK and between the UK and the EU to achieve their goals.
Modern Parallel: The aftermath of Brexit has shown how deep divisions can affect not just national politics but also relationships with neighbouring countries. The long-term results of Brexit remain to be seen, and transition periods are always bumpy.
The Role of Media and Propaganda
A significant point is the role of media and propaganda in divide and conquer strategies. Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud, pioneered techniques in the early 20th century for manipulating public opinion, known as the “engineering of consent.” These methods were integral during both World Wars and remain effective today.
Historical Example: Nazi Germany used propaganda to turn various social groups against each other, consolidating power and justifying their actions.
Modern Parallel: In the digital age, misinformation and propaganda spread rapidly through social media, often with the intent of dividing public opinion. The manipulation of information during elections, the spread of misinformation, and the polarization surrounding topics like COVID-19 are contemporary examples of how media can be used to divide society.
Unfortunately, in recent years, this manipulation is increasingly coming from mainstream media rather than from other sources.
Moving Forward: Unite and Build
While "divide and conquer" has been a powerful strategy historically and continues to be effective today, there is an alternative approach: "Unite and Build." This strategy focuses on fostering unity based on common goals and humanity, allowing for healthy diversity to coexist peacefully.
By "healthy," I mean not normalizing the abnormal or twisting reality for the sake of diversity.
Historical Example: Although less documented, there have been movements and leaders who have successfully united people despite their differences. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to promote unity among Indians of different religions aimed to counter the divisive tactics of the British.
Modern Application: Today, there is a need for movements that emphasize common goals, such as addressing climate change, ensuring economic justice, and protecting human rights. Promoting dialogue and understanding across different groups can help counteract the divisive strategies that have become prevalent.
However, it is important to safeguard freedom of speech. We should be able to hear both sides and engage in effective arguments without fanaticism and polarization. This is crucial; otherwise, the pendulum will swing to the other side, causing the groups that were once in control to be accused and marginalized. Any reasonable person can understand that this approach will not work and will only make things worse.
Resentment and anger over past mistakes, both collectively as humans and individually, will only lead to more of the same.
Conclusion
This analysis underscores the enduring relevance of divide and conquer strategies while also highlighting the potential for unity. By learning from history and recognizing the patterns of division in our current world, we can strive towards a more united and equitable society.
It is crucial to be aware of how these tactics are used and to actively work towards fostering unity and understanding. Remember that divide and conquer uses valid arguments but polarizes them to increase division.
It doesn’t need to be this way; this is manipulation with specific goals in mind, as it has been throughout history. Who is behind the divide and conquer strategies today? I will leave this for you to reflect upon.
It is important to understand that the conversation about divide and conquer continues to be relevant.
Perhaps the key to overcoming these divisive tactics lies in recognizing our common humanity and working together towards shared goals, while being able to withstand conflict, criticism, and different perspectives. "Cancelling opposition" will only add fuel to division and will have the exact opposite effect.