The Ideologeme of ‘Enemy’: Neurotic Crisis of Identity

Abstract

The article deals with the reinvigoration of the mechanism of negative socio-political mobilisation inside a society through defeating the ‘other’. What is implied is the establishment of a personal or group identity that brushes off the image of an ‘enemy’ and inflames around it the neurotic crisis. This model of human interaction usually unleashes frustration and social resentment in a society towards the ‘enemy’. A notable example of that is the mass rally against racism, embodied in street riots and incidents with demolition of monuments to former slaveholders and colonisers of the US and Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis have accelerated this common syndrome of destruction. The author believes that it is wrong to reduce the whole phenomenon of social protests to certain barbarous acts. In reality, we are witnessing a true revision of the historical past and reinterpretation of the mechanism of socio-cultural integration in both American society and the whole system of Western liberalism. History proves that every crime against humanity will inevitably lead to sincere repentance – or redemption and serious retribution. The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis have affected Ukraine, sophisticating the repercussions of the Russian aggression that has lasted for five years. In the meantime, the aggressor has not taken any steps to recognise the fact of aggression. In the information field of the Russian Federation, Ukraine is seen as one of the major ‘enemies’ vindicating the Kremlin’s aggressive great-power policy. Given the aforementioned, the article is dedicated to analysing whether there is any possibility for these two nations to come to an understanding and refuse from the ideologeme of an ‘enemy’ in the process of building up their national identities. Keywords: national identity, socio-cultural integration, racism, economic crisis, social protests.