Apartheid used tribalism as the basis of its 'divide-and-rule' homeland policies.
2. uncountable noun
You can use tribalism to refer to the loyalties that people feel towards particular social groups and to the way these loyalties affect their behaviour and their attitudes towards others.
[disapproval]
His argument was that multi-party systems encourage tribalism.
...the evils of tribalism, disunity and disintegration.
tribalism in British English
(ˈtraɪbəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
the state of existing as a separate tribe or tribes
2.
the customs and beliefs of a tribal society
3.
loyalty to a tribe or tribal values
Derived forms
tribalist (ˈtribalist)
noun, adjective
tribalistic (ˌtribalˈistic)
adjective
tribalism in American English
(ˈtraɪbəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
tribal organization, culture, loyalty, etc.
2.
a strong sense of identifying with and being loyal to one's tribe, group, etc.
Derived forms
tribalist (ˈtribalist)
adjective, noun
tribalistic (ˌtribalˈistic)
adjective
Examples of 'tribalism' in a sentence
tribalism
But art tribalism seldom gives way to logic.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is bigger than party tribalism.
The Sun (2014)
By undermining the nation, it encourages tribalism.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet in his second return to government he has considered the conflict between party tribalism and economic judgment, and chosen badly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Only at football, the historic vehicle for aggressive tribalism, did this hatred find such a willing constituency.