Difference between revisions of "Demonization"
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*If the demonized group is a political rival, reduces the risk that followers will defect to the rivals' group. | *If the demonized group is a political rival, reduces the risk that followers will defect to the rivals' group. | ||
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+ | ==Recent examples== | ||
+ | A reviewer of [[Barbara Olson]]'s, ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'' Regnery Publishing (1999) wrote, | ||
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+ | {{Cquote|Olson discusses the Clintons' method of dealing with enemies, which is straight out of the writings of [[left-wing]] crank [[Saul Alinsky]]: demonize, polarize, and destroy. Witness [[Ken Starr]], [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Paula Jones]], ''et al''. Olson, a former Senate counsel who investigated the Clinton Administration's FBI file caper and Travel Office fiasco <ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg34192.html ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton'',] Reviews, retrieved 05/21/07.</ref>}} | ||
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+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | *[[Hillary Clinton]] | ||
+ | *[[Bill Clinton]] | ||
+ | *[[Saul Alinsky]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Further reading== | ||
+ | *[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-hayward032703.asp Old Liberalism, R.I.P.,]Steven F. Hayward, ''National Review Online'', March 27, 2003 | ||
+ | *[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904228-4,00.html Radical Saul Alinsky: Prophet of Power to the People,] ''TIME'', Mar. 02, 1970. | ||
[[Category:Politics]] | [[Category:Politics]] |
Revision as of 16:13, May 21, 2007
Demonization is when a demagogue, or group of demagogues, paints their ideological enemies or scapegoats in terms intended to render them as irredeemably evil and fit only for destruction, which is usually presented as 'self-defense'. Possibly the best-known example of demonization in the 20th century was the Nazis' demonization of Jews, which played off of existing antisemitism for political gain and eventually led to the Holocaust.
Contents
Advantages of demonization for an unscrupulous politician
- Gives followers an easy target for all their pent-up frustration.
- Distracts them from any real causes for their problems which you may not be able or willing to cure.
- If the demonized group is a political rival, reduces the risk that followers will defect to the rivals' group.
Recent examples
A reviewer of Barbara Olson's, Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton Regnery Publishing (1999) wrote,
“ | Olson discusses the Clintons' method of dealing with enemies, which is straight out of the writings of left-wing crank Saul Alinsky: demonize, polarize, and destroy. Witness Ken Starr, Newt Gingrich, Paula Jones, et al. Olson, a former Senate counsel who investigated the Clinton Administration's FBI file caper and Travel Office fiasco [1] | ” |
See also
Further reading
- Old Liberalism, R.I.P.,Steven F. Hayward, National Review Online, March 27, 2003
- Radical Saul Alinsky: Prophet of Power to the People, TIME, Mar. 02, 1970.