French philosopher René Girard discusses the prevalence of victim politics, his theory of collective violence and scapegoating, the impact of culture on politics, the role of narrative and myth in victimhood, the influence of social media, and the portrayal of victimhood on Instagram.
Victim politics has been driving human civilization for millennia, originating from collective violence and scapegoating.
Narratives and myths shape the culture of victimhood, with social media platforms amplifying its dissemination and contributing to polarization.
Deep dives
The Impetus Behind Victim Politics
Victim politics is not a recent phenomenon, and the work of philosopher René Girard sheds light on its origins. Girard believed that human societies were built on collective violence and scapegoating, which he called the surrogate victim-age mechanism. This process can be traced back to ancient religious rituals of sacrifice. Girard's concept of mimetic desire also plays a role, as humans imitate each other's desires, leading to conflict and the scapegoating of a common enemy. In modern times, victimhood has become a badge of honor, conferring moral authority. Both the political left and right engage in victim politics, with the left often splintering into fractal tribes and the right asserting victim status through conspiracy theories and claims of being silenced.
The Role of Narrative and Myth
Narrative and myth play a significant role in the culture of victimhood. Stereotypes of persecution and religious tales of sacrifice inform the ways in which victims are scapegoated. The Holocaust narrative, in particular, has shaped the understanding of victimhood and is frequently invoked in discussions about social and political conflicts. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter amplify the dissemination of narratives and myths, fueling the culture of victimhood. These platforms also reward extreme engagement, contributing to polarized discourse.
Interpretations on the Left and Right
On the political left, victimhood is often associated with marginalized groups and social justice causes. However, the left's focus on victims can sometimes reduce individuals to their marginalized identities, and disagreements within the left can lead to accusations of persecution. The right also asserts victim status, often through conspiracies and claims of being silenced by the liberal establishment. Both sides appropriate victimhood to advance their agendas, but the notion of progressivism as winning or losing in the battle of victimhood is complex. The right has gained support from a certain working-class constituency that feels left behind by the left's notion of victims. Overall, victimhood is a contentious and multi-faceted aspect of contemporary political discourse.
The politics of victimhood is a feature of our contemporary cultural landscape - but according to French philosopher René Girard, the impetus behind victim politics has been driving human civilisation for millennia.
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