tribalism

Us-versus-them mentality

Tribalism is loyalty to one's own group above all else, often accompanied by hostility toward outsiders.

The term originally described the social organization of tribal societies, but now usually carries negative connotations—suggesting blind allegiance, us-versus-them thinking, and refusal to engage fairly with opposing views: Political tribalism has made compromise impossible.

The word implies that group identity overrides reason or evidence.

clannishness

kinship

State of being related

in-groupExclusive social cluster
insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
parochialismExcessive local focus

exclusivity · provincialism · nepotism · favoritism · cronyism · endogamy · clique · groupthink · insider · outsider

prejudice

xenophobia

Hatred of outsiders

ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
biasUnfair inclination or prejudice

discrimination · chauvinism · racism · intolerance · stereotype · outgroup · scapegoating · othering · nativism · narrow-mindedness

ideology

sectarianism

Prejudiced loyalty to subgroups

nationalismDevotion to one's country
partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets

zealotry · dogmatism · factionalism · populism · extremism · radicalism · ideologue · orthodoxy · echo chamber · true believer

identity

ancestry

Family line of descent

heritageInherited cultural legacy
ethnicityShared cultural heritage group
lineageDescent from progenitors

clan · traditions · customs · rituals · totem · folkways · homeland · dialect · genealogy · descent

solidarity

loyalty

Faithful commitment to another

unityWholeness through cohesion
allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
brotherhoodKinship among men

sisterhood · cohesion · camaraderie · bonding · collective identity · mutual support · fellowship · communal · esprit de corps · band together

conflict

feuding

Sustained hostile conflict

warfareArmed conflict between groups
hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
strifeAngry, prolonged conflict

factionalism · rivalry · discord · animosity · antagonism · schism · polarization · infighting · turf war · vendetta

Categories

ethnic politicsethnic nationalism, ethnic conflict, ethnic identity, ethnic tension, ethnic cleansing
Identity Politicsethnic identity, ethnic pride, ethnic solidarity, ethnic nationalism, ethnonationalism
social systemspolitical systems, capitalism, feudalism, economic systems, socialism
group identityingroup, outgroup, belonging, ethnicity, nationality
social phenomenasocial change, social norms, social movements, conformity, inequality
social psychologysocial behavior, conformity, social influence, attribution, groupthink

Opposites

group loyalty vs. universal inclusion

tribalismcosmopolitanism

Belief in shared humanity

universalism · globalism · humanitarianism · internationalism · ecumenism

parochialism vs. broad-mindedness

tribalismopen-mindedness

Acceptance of differing viewpoints

broad-mindedness · tolerance · worldliness · sophistication · eclecticism

collective identity vs. individual autonomy

tribalismindividualism

Doctrine of personal independence

autonomy · self-determination · nonconformity · freethinking · nonconformism

Phrases

political tribalismGroup identity overriding reason

Family

tribalistic, tribalist, tribalists, tribalisms, tribalized, tribalization

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Rated PG