Tag: Loneliness

Two people run into each other in their neighbourhood, or virtually on Facebook, and instantly start discussing the president. If the two support Trump, they might share a grumble about the media. But they are also signalling something else to each other, namely: “You and I belong to the same tribe. Then, in 2016, even many previously apolitical Americans embraced their tribal political identity. That year’s US election drew about twice as much interest on Google as the three previous presidential elections combined. And politics has only become more tribal since. Supporting him therefore gives you a clearer identity now than it did in 2016. Remainers sport European flags and their new acronym FBPE (Follow Back Pro EU), just as Trump supporters have American flags and MAGA (Make America Great Again). These people have found their tribes. Most people choose not to, partly because they like living in their tribe.