The article discusses the phenomenon of tribalism in American politics, highlighting its nature as loyalty to a group rather than principles. It emphasizes how tribal values are not fixed but fluid, with examples from the Republican Party's evolving stances on trade and government spending. The discussion posits that tribalism is rooted in our biology as social beings and influenced by cognitive biases, particularly in-group bias, whereby individuals perceive their members as superior. The author aims for a neutral perspective on this complex topic.
While this essay is not intended to explore the complexities of a rigorous definition of the concept, I will endeavor to discuss the matter in a neutral and rational way.
Tribalism is characterized by loyalty to the tribe. This differs from loyalty to principles or values.
As the tribe changes values, tribalists shift their values.
The ease with which tribes shift values shows that it is real.
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