Division by Design: How Enemy Images Are Used in Polarizing Societies

In times of war and political upheaval, societies often create "enemy images" — dehumanizing portrayals of the Other, designed to justify violence, discrimination, and exclusion. These enemy images, constructed by governments, media, and elites, serve to manipulate public perception and solidify group identities, fostering an "us vs. them" mentality. Understanding how enemy images are built, propagated, and weaponized is essential for recognizing their corrosive effects on democracy, dialogue, and human dignity.

At their core, enemy images are powerful tools for controlling societies, and yes - us - to the degree that we are subconsciously influenced by them. They erode empathy, stifle meaningful dialogue, and pave the way for violence and political gridlock. Yet, by recognizing how these images are constructed and wielded, we can resist their influence. 

The Function of Enemy Images
 

Enemy images have been used throughout history to mobilize populations against perceived threats, rally support for wars, and create a unified sense of purpose among citizens. Whether they involve caricatures of a foreign power, a racial or ethnic minority, or an ideological opponent, these images strip individuals or groups of their humanity, reducing them to symbols of evil or danger.

The construction of an enemy image simplifies complex political and social dynamics. It reduces the opponent to a single negative trait, erasing nuance and empathy. In the heat of conflict, whether military or cultural, enemy images make it easier to foster hatred, justify atrocities, and silence dissent.

How Enemy Images Are Created

1. Propaganda: The most direct method for crafting enemy images is through state or corporate propaganda. Governments, especially during times of war, will flood the media with messages that depict the enemy as monstrous, barbaric, or inhuman. Nazi Germany's portrayal of Jews, America's demonization of Communists during the Cold War, or modern Western depictions of "terrorists" in the Middle East all fit this model.
2. Stereotyping: Stereotypes reduce individuals to a set of exaggerated characteristics, ignoring the complexity of human experience. Enemy images often rely on entrenched stereotypes that are culturally familiar. These stereotypes can be racial (e.g., African Americans as criminals), national (e.g., Russians as scheming manipulators), or ideological (e.g., socialists as dangerous radicals).
3. Demonization: In order to make war or repression palatable, enemy images often cast opponents as morally depraved, evil, or even subhuman. This is a tactic of demonization, where enemies are painted as not just wrong, but morally wicked. During the Vietnam War, for example, the American public was presented with a grotesque image of the Viet Cong — ruthless killers who posed an existential threat to American values.
4. Fearmongering: Fear is a powerful tool in solidifying enemy images. Leaders and media outlets exploit public anxieties, suggesting that the enemy poses an immediate, existential threat. This tactic drives societies into a state of paranoia, where any means of self-defense, including violence or repression, seems justified.

The Impact on Society

The consequences of enemy images are profound. They undermine the possibility of negotiation and compromise by dehumanizing the other side. Dialogue becomes impossible when one party views the other as less than human or wholly immoral. As societies succumb to enemy images, polarization deepens, and authoritarianism often follows, as leaders capitalize on fear and hatred to consolidate power.

Enemy images also damage the moral and psychological health of a society. They poison civil discourse, replacing rational debate with vitriol and suspicion. They strip individuals of empathy, making it easier to support aggressive foreign policy or domestic repression. Societies that indulge in enemy images frequently lose sight of the humanity of those they oppose, which can lead to atrocities, as seen in genocides, war crimes, and acts of terror.

The Role of Media

In the digital age, enemy images are proliferated at alarming speeds. Social media platforms, cable news, and the internet as a whole enable the rapid spread of misinformation and fear. Algorithms, designed to capture attention, promote sensationalism, encouraging the further entrenchment of enemy images. People increasingly live in echo chambers, where their fears are stoked and their biases reinforced, making it ever more difficult to break free from the cycle of demonization.

Traditional news outlets, often held captive by the interests of state and corporate power, frequently bow to these cultural pressures by depicting simplified and slanted depictions of complex issues. Coverage of war, political conflict, or cultural debates often emphasizes stark binaries: good versus evil, right versus wrong, virtuous vs depraved. This reductionist framing can strip events of their context and complexity, making it easier to sustain the narratives that serve ruling class interests.

"We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country." -  Donald Trump, November 11, 2023

Challenging Enemy Images

To challenge enemy images is to resist the forces that seek to control and divide us. The antidote to enemy images is empathy, dialogue, and a commitment to seeing the humanity in others, even those we disagree with. We must cultivate the discipline to question the narratives presented to us, especially in times of conflict or crisis.

History has shown that enemy images can be dismantled. After the fall of apartheid, South Africans confronted the painful history of racial oppression through truth and reconciliation commissions. Germans grappled with their Nazi past through education and remembrance. These processes were not easy, but they were essential for healing the wounds inflicted by years of dehumanization and division.

Today, the challenge is no less urgent. The rising tide of political extremism, nationalism, and xenophobia threatens to engulf us in a renewed wave of enemy images — immigrants painted as invaders, Muslims labeled as terrorists, and political opponents branded as vermin. These dangerous narratives reduce people to one-dimensional caricatures, undermining our shared humanity. To counter this, we must actively resist such reductions and recognize the dignity of all people, as it is the first step toward healing the divisions and building a more just, compassionate world.

The greatest act of defiance is to affirm the humanity of those labeled as enemies — to reject the fear and hatred that fuel these images. In doing so, we not only reclaim the possibility of peace but also embrace a world where “enemy images” are the one foe that humanity can agree should be vanquished. 

Tim Hjersted is the director and co-founder of Films For Action, an online library for people who want to change the world. He lives in Lawrence, KS.