Divide and Rule: How Fascist Regimes Manipulate and Control Their People
“Divide and rule” has long been a cornerstone of authoritarian and fascist regimes. From ancient empires to modern dictatorships, the tactic of creating internal divisions among the population has been a powerful tool for maintaining control. By fostering distrust, hatred, and conflict among different social, ethnic, religious, or economic groups, rulers ensure that the population remains fragmented and disorganized—too weak and distracted to unite against the regime. This deliberate strategy allows authoritarian governments to suppress dissent, limit freedoms, and deprive people of their basic rights to health, education, and economic stability. Let’s explore how the “divide and rule” principle operates under fascism and dictatorships and the devastating effects it has on the lives of ordinary people. The Strategy of Division At the heart of “divide and rule” lies the manipulation of identity and social divisions. Authoritarian regimes often identify existing fault lines within ...