Crowds and Power summary

Introduction

Crowds and Power by Elias Kaneti Crowds and power explores the hidden dynamics of human crowds and how they shape political authority. Why do people who value their individuality so willingly become part of a crowd? Throughout history, ordinary individuals have repeatedly joined together to launch revolutions, religions, and wars. Yet the same collective forces can also breed violence, obedience, and total domination.

This book traces the deep evolutionary and historical roots of crowds and power. By understanding these dynamics, we can better comprehend the forces shaping modern society.

There Are Five Different Kinds of Crowds

There Are Five Different Kinds of Crowds. They can be distinguished by their emotional content. If you have ever been running late for work on a crowded train, it might suddenly grind to a halt. You might have experienced something like this.

As the train stops, there is a shift in people's behavior. Just seconds ago, everyone was immersed in their own small world. Now as frustration mounts, there is suddenly a sense of togetherness. Everyone's anger is directed at the same target.

Everyone wants the same thing, to get the train running again. That is a great example of how a crowd forms. A crowd is not just a large number of people. It is a mass in which members identify with one another.

When that happens, people enter into something greater. It is more than the sum of their individual parts. In that moment, there is a sense of equality. Every member enjoys the same standing, regardless of previous differences.

Those are the general traits of all crowds. But there are also specific types of crowds. In fact, there are five different kinds of crowds according to their emotional content. Let us start with the baiting crowd.

This crowd has a clear objective, to kill its chosen target. A classic example is the crowd that called for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Then there are flight crowds. These are formed when a group of people is faced with a common threat.

Once the danger passes, however, the crowd dissolves. Next are prohibition crowds, and their purpose is refusal. Think of striking workers manning a picket line. Reversal crowds are also rebellious, but their aim is to overturn existing power hierarchies.

They form when slaves revolt against their masters. Or soldiers turn their weapons on their officers. Finally, there are feast crowds. Their purpose is common and equal indulgence, typically in the form of lavish food-based festivals.

Let us get back to what all these types of crowds have in common. There are four attributes that define all crowds. The first is growth. Once a crowd exists, it tends to expand.

It wants more people to join it. Second is equality. As soon as a crowd has formed, all its members are equal. Third, crowds are typically dense.

Bodies are pressed up against each other. Nothing can stand in the way of this proximity or divide members from one another. Finally, every crowd has a goal. Without a purpose, the crowd disperses.

People become individuals concerned with their personal affairs once more. Once Jesus had been crucified for example. The crowd that had been baying for his blood left the scene. Its members returned to their normal lives.