Editing Ideology (section)

=== Unifying agents (Hoffer) ===
The American philosopher [[Eric Hoffer]] identified several elements that unify followers of a particular ideology:<ref name=":3">[[Eric Hoffer|Hoffer, Eric]]. 1951. ''[[The True Believer]]''. [[Harper Perennial]]. p. 91, ''[[et seq]].''</ref>

# Hatred: "Mass movements can rise and spread without a [[God]], but never without belief in a [[devil]]."<ref name=":3" /> The "ideal devil" is a foreigner.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|93}}
# Imitation: "The less satisfaction we derive from being ourselves, the greater is our desire to be like others…the more we mistrust our judgment and luck, the more are we ready to follow the example of others."<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|101–2}}
# Persuasion: The proselytizing zeal of propagandists derives from "a passionate search for something not yet found more than a desire to bestow something we already have."<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|110}}
# Coercion: Hoffer asserts that violence and [[fanaticism]] are interdependent. People forcibly converted to [[Islam]]ic or [[communist]] beliefs become as fanatical as those who did the forcing. He says: "It takes fanatical faith to rationalize our cowardice."<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|107–8}}
# Leadership: Without the leader, there is no movement. Often the leader must wait long in the wings until the time is ripe. He calls for sacrifices in the present, to justify his vision of a breathtaking future. The skills required include: audacity, brazenness, iron will, fanatical conviction; passionate hatred, cunning, a delight in symbols; ability to inspire blind faith in the masses; and a group of able [[lieutenant]]s.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|112–4}} [[Charlatan]]ism is indispensable, and the leader often imitates both friend and foe, "a single-minded fashioning after a model." He will not lead followers towards the "[[Promised Land|promised land]]", but only "away from their unwanted selves".<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|116–9}}
# Action: Original thoughts are suppressed, and unity encouraged, if the masses are kept occupied through great projects, marches, exploration and industry.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|120–1}}
# Suspicion: "There is prying and spying, tense watching and a tense awareness of being watched." This pathological mistrust goes unchallenged and encourages [[conformity]], not [[dissent]].<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|124}}