Worth a read.
https://medium.com/@philosophy.101/divide-and-conquer-the-philosophy-behind-a-polarized-society-dff8164ccb64
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The Classic Political Playbook: "Divide, Distract, Rule"
1. Create or amplify cultural divisions
Promote or highlight identity conflicts (race, gender, religion, sexuality, immigration).
Use media, political rhetoric, and social media to polarize society around these issues.
2. Redirect anger horizontally, not vertically
Encourage people to blame each other instead of blaming the wealthy or powerful.
Example: Working-class whites vs. working-class immigrants — rather than both uniting against exploitative labor practices.
3. Use symbolic gestures instead of material change
Corporations or politicians make "woke" statements, change branding, or appoint diverse leaders — but don’t change economic policy (e.g., wages, healthcare, housing).
This placates social movements without redistributing wealth or power.
4. Silence or marginalize class-based critique
Frame economic critique as “outdated,” “class reductionist,” or even as a form of bigotry.
Elevate only those voices that focus on identity without threatening capital or power structures.
5. Promote consumer activism over collective action
Suggest that change happens by buying the right products, not organizing, unionizing, or striking.
Replace politics with personal branding or lifestyle choices.
6. Fund controlled opposition
Fund NGOs, influencers, or campaigns that appear progressive but do not challenge capitalism.
The result: movements get absorbed into the system instead of transforming it.
7. Keep the working class fragmented and demoralized
Constant infighting over language, representation, or cultural signaling keeps people distracted and divided.
Prevent mass organizing (e.g., labor movements, class coalitions).
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Real-World Examples Cited by Critics:
The Democratic Party in the U.S. embracing identity politics while backing Wall Street and opposing policies like universal healthcare.
Corporate PR campaigns (like rainbow logos during Pride Month) that cover up exploitative labor practices.
Media obsessing over cancel culture or "culture wars" while ignoring growing wealth inequality.
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