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REJECTING ALIENS TO PRESERVE NATIONAL PURITY
Political violence revolves around destroying badness to preserve goodness. The nation's purity must be preserved. Like a human body whose immune system rejects what is not-self, the nation must not allow “aliens” to be present within its borders. These aliens may be Jews, Mexicans, Moslems, illegal immigrants, etc. The nature of the enemy is fungible. The fantasy is the same.
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Nations are defined by boundaries— separating others from self. A nation is like a human body with an immune system: repelling “invaders” that may penetrate into the interior.
The logic of national security, Ronnie Lipschutz (1995) says, is "exclusionist:" drawing boundaries to differentiate within from without. Secure borders mean “differentiating self from others.”
“Enemies” constitute the essence of a state by defining “national security.” The enemy is the alien that cannot be allowed to penetrate. National boundaries separate badness from goodness—protecting the self.
One’s own nation is conceived as absolutely good. The enemy is conceived as absolutely bad. Badness is what does not belong within the boundaries of the nation.
Enemies are entities whose presence within the national body is forbidden. They are "infections;" pathogenic organisms penetrating into the national bloodstream.
Political violence revolves around destroying badness to preserve goodness. War is generated when badness is located outside national boundaries. Genocide involves destroying badness identified with “internal enemies.”
The nation's purity must be preserved. Like a human body whose immune system rejects what is not-self, the nation must not allow “aliens” to be present within its borders. Aliens may be Jews, Mexicans, Moslems, illegal immigrants, etc. The nature of the enemy is fungible. The fantasy is the same.
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