We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Philosophy

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Divide and Conquer Strategy?

Diane Goettel
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 126,361
Share

A divide and conquer strategy, also known as “divide and rule strategy” is often applied in the arenas of politics and sociology. In this strategy, one power breaks another power into smaller, more manageable pieces, and then takes control of those pieces one by one. It generally takes a very strong power to implement such a strategy. In order to successfully break up another power or government, the conqueror must have access to strong political, military, and economic machines.

Furthermore, in order to maintain power and influence, large governments will often work to keep smaller powers and governments from uniting. In fact, this use of the principles within the divide and conquer strategy is most common. It is much easier to prevent small powers from linking forces than to break them apart once they have aligned.

Leaders who use a divide and conquer strategy may encourage or foster feuds between smaller powers. This kind of political maneuvering requires a great understanding of the people who are being manipulated. In order to foster feuds, for example, one must understand the political and social histories of the parties intended to take part in the feuds.

The strategy also includes methods with which to control the funds and resources of the small conquered parties. For example, a powerful leader may encourage a less powerful leader to make unwise financial decisions in order to drain the smaller power’s resources. This is often successful if the leaders of the smaller powers have inflated egos and delusions of grandeur. It is important to note that this form is only effective if the smaller power allows itself to be influenced by the larger power.

The divide and conquer strategy has been widely used throughout history. Both the Roman empire and the British empire played small tribes and groups against one another in order to control their lands and territories. It was used by the Romans when they took Britain, when the British Empire took India, and when the Anglo-Normans took Ireland. A staple political strategy, divide and conquer is still used by many countries today.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Diane Goettel
By Diane Goettel
"Diane Goettel has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in English from Brooklyn College. Diane lives in Mount Vernon, New York with her husband, Noah. They are the proud parents of a Doberman Pinscher named Spoon. Specialties: book editing, book marketing, book publishing, freelance writing, magazine publishing, magazine writing, copywriting,"
Discussion Comments
By anon982679 — On Dec 21, 2014

You're all part of the divide and conquer strategy when you: cheer for a sports team, express animosity for another race, gender, religion, class, nation, state, profession, etc., etc., etc. You don't even understand the nature of the psychological penetration into the human psyche our masters have garnered through millennia of experimentation on us. We are trained to be divided from birth through social conditioning. Realize it and wake the hell up. Know Thyself says the Oracle, Know when you are being manipulated. What do you think Hollywood's purpose is?

By anon322474 — On Feb 27, 2013

The dumbing down of citizens makes willing clients for destruction.

By anon254677 — On Mar 14, 2012

It is now a strategy not labeled as monarchy conquest but the economic downfall of the working class.

Its objectives include the demise of workers' rights and the unions which many are associated with. Furthermore, it does and will always infringe and abuse common human rights to which all men are supposedly entitled to, and is currently sanctioned by and endorsed by both the British and US governments.

For info on the new conquests, please research the Bilderberg group and the Queen's favorite, Baron Michael Ashcroft. Criminals, the lot of them.

By arod2b42 — On Jan 23, 2011

@Armas1313

Separation of church and state ensures that the authorities of each remain separate, but both must abide by a transcendent solid moral code in order to properly coexist. Morality forms the basis of a good state as well as a good church.

By Armas1313 — On Jan 21, 2011

@arod2b42

What about separation of Church and State? Morals aren't supposed to be involved in governments.

By arod2b42 — On Jan 20, 2011

Divide and conquer strategies work on ineffective, corrupt, and fragmenting governments. A government which is a strongly democratic and balanced government buttressed by a strong societal moral code will not often fall prey to a new form of government. If, however, such a government loses its moral compass, it falls into disarray and eventually collapses.

By anon108043 — On Sep 01, 2010

What is the objective, the plan for the future in divide and conquer?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
"Diane Goettel has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in English from Brooklyn College. Diane lives in Mount...
Learn more
Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-a-divide-and-conquer-strategy.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.