The perception of an external enemy or threat can help strengthen group cohesion – a factor that has been exploited by leaders over the ages. Now an EU project has investigated that phenomenon to contribute to a better understanding of power structures in colonial settings and the mechanisms of political communication at large.
Divide and rule – a principle as old as human conflict itself. But how in practice does that actually work and what are the implications now? One EU-supported project considered the case of the Spanish colonial Philippines, taking chronicles and reports from the 17th and 18th centuries as its sources, to get a clearer idea of how threat perception can be fostered and used. It took a look at the root of what is still known as the ‘Moro problem’. This refers to clashes between Muslim and Christians in the southern Philippines.
Further details: New research reveals mechanisms behind the principle of divide and rule