[bilbo0s]

Identity politics would always exist.

We just called it "tribalism" in our distant past.

It can never go away. It isn't specific to the US either, it's a part of us as humans. That's the real reason there are no "free" countries. I guarantee, you look closely enough, you'll find the group in that country that is not "free". People just knock the US all the time because the group in our nation that is not "free" is pretty obvious to everyone in the world. But all the other nations are just as bad. I've been to a lot of them, so I can promise you that.

There is not shining example of non-tribalist freedom out there, and only the ready and frequent application of force would ever create such a nation. Even then, it would be against the will of many of that nation's citizens.

[saila]

Your reply here comes across as reactionary and rather condescending but really doesn't address anything I said.

Nowhere did I say the U.S. is worse than anywhere else nor did I imply perfection exists or even could exist.

I was responding to someone talking about "the west," and I have a U.S.-centric perspective because that's where I'm from.

It's quite obvious that tribalism will always be a thing (to some extent), but I strongly disagree that tribalism → modern identity politics.

[bilbo0s]

What is modern identity politics but a big word that academics and élites dreamed up for tribalism?

You may believe they are different because your ideology needs for you to believe they are different. But at heart, there is no difference. Using terms like "modern identity politics" just allows you to discuss the topic in academia and polite society. On the streets, when the tiki torches, rifles, and baseball bats come out, it really is just tribalism. Different tribes going at each other precisely because they are each the "other".