What this means is that if we are to deal with our greatest challenges, we must deal with them as members of humanity, not as members of our various tribes as we have been inclined to do in the past. Not as Canadians, or Americans, or Nigerians, or Japanese, but as human beings. This presents a very great challenge in itself because we have been designed by evolution to identify with small groups of others with whom we have characteristics, or behaviours, or beliefs, in common and in opposition to other groups with whom we differ.
This, in a world where our greatest problems confront us as a species, we can no longer afford. And yet, just as the need to overcome tribalism and turn our loyalty to humanity as a whole becomes essential to our future, we seem to be retreating into it. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, "Multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most." That masterpiece of unity, the European Union, is beginning to fracture, with the UK opting out and Eastern European countries retreating from its principles. Above all, perhaps, we have the United States elect a president who is not only intensely tribal to other nations but even within his own. And, at home, tribalism is usually on display among the provinces and regions of our own country.
Tribalism is defined simply as attitudes and behaviour that derive from loyalty to one's social group, and it is programmed into us. Evolution designed us to be a social species. We live in groups, from families to nation-states, and suffer psychologically when we are isolated. We need to belong, to be part of something larger than ourselves, whether as members of a religion or political party or profession, as patriots of our nation, or as fans of a sports team.
Our genes insist. Consider for example the OXT gene, involved in the production of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin, found in almost all mammals, affects social behaviour in many species, including ours. It plays a role in sexual attraction and maternal affection, as well as social bonding generally, including promoting trust, empathy and generosity. Thus we are genetically programmed for loyalty to our family and even larger groups, to be compassionate toward and co-operate with our fellow members.
But what brings us together also drives us apart.
While one tribal imperative will cause a man to love his country, quite another will lead him to hate those of a different race or religion even though they are his fellow citizens. What can bring people together as a nation can also tear their nation apart as religious or political or ethnic groups embrace their own tribe over that of the larger society.
For an explanation of this dichotomy, we may once again look to our genes, and once again to oxytocin. Oxytocin is a Jekyll and Hyde hormone. It leads us to love our family, clan and tribal fellows, but it can also alienate us from those of other tribes. It causes us to be more defensive of our tribe, increases our desire to protect those we see as vulnerable members of our in-group, and causes us to align more closely with our tribe’s beliefs. What is powerfully beneficial within groups can be powerfully destructive between groups.
We cannot escape our tribal instincts. We are all prejudiced in favour of our group and against the outsider. We can't help it. What we can help is what we do about it. We can and must recognize its reality and its power and what it does to us.
The irony is we overcome it every day even as we allow it to tear us apart. In Canada a multitude of races, religious groups, professions, sports fans—tribes of all kinds—maintain loyalty to their groups while getting along remarkably well in the larger tribe of Canada. Other countries do the same. And countries, too, often overcome their selfish instincts to their mutual benefit. At this, the most critical moment in human history, we must conquer the tribal imperative as never before.
We must choose our leaders on the basis of their capacity to think outside the bounds of tribalism and reverse the current trend toward increasing nativism and xenophobia. The trend in this country, if recent elections are any measure, is not encouraging. In Alberta, for instance, we now have a premier who is threatening to go to war against pretty much anybody who disagrees with him from David Suzuki to oil company execs who support a carbon tax. The tribal drums are beating.
The federal election this fall offers us an opportunity to get it right, keeping in mind that the Conservative leader, Mr. Scheer, supported Brexit, one of the most tribal exercise in recent history. The stakes are high—there is no bigger issue.
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