Who Belongs? How “Othering” Undermines Democracy

What is othering? We’re so glad a few of you asked! Join us as we explore othering, social cohesion, shared fate, and a few of the other important ideas that are connected to protecting our democracy.

In Galvanize USA’s ongoing work to grow ideologically-moderate women’s civic power, we often talk about people in terms of “in-groups” and “out-groups.” Your in-groups are people who you think are like you. That might mean people who share your religion, your sexual orientation, your regional culture, or just the folks on your soccer team. Othering is when a person sees certain people as not belonging to their group. It is saying “they are not like us, they do not belong.” 

OTHERING
Othering is a broad, subtle concept. It’s when someone views others as fundamentally different, separate, or not part of “us.” It’s about distancing or excluding people from the group you identify with, not necessarily about fearing or being unkind to others.

As a (mostly) innocuous example, that hypothetical soccer team might engage in othering to build in-group cohesion and separate themselves from their athletic rivals. As much more harmful examples that frequently come up in our research: some US-born Americans engage in othering against American immigrants, and some cisgender people engage in othering against trans people. In both examples, the dominant group is inappropriately saying “they” are not like “us.”

When that othering also involves holding negative beliefs about out-group members, that’s out-group derogation. Out-group derogation has to do with perceiving the out-group as a threat to physical, financial, or cultural wellbeing. It’s not just that “they’re” different from “us,” it’s the fear that “they” are going to take something that’s “ours,” like jobs or social status. This kind of thinking can lead to behaviors and policies that hurt and exclude many people.
🔖Related reading: Social Insignificance Versus Linked Fate

OUT-GROUP DEROGATION
Out-group derogation is when someone holds negative views about people outside their group, especially the belief that they are a threat to your safety, values, finances, or cultural wellbeing. It goes beyond just seeing someone as “different”: it’s feeling like that difference is dangerous or harmful. In psychology, this is a trait that we can measure through attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Othering and out-group derogation weaken democracy and pave the way for authoritarianism. Authoritarian leaders often exploit societal divisions—they use populist rhetoric to cast themselves as champions of “the people” against a corrupt elite, foreigners, or marginalized groups. 

To build an America where everyone can thrive, we must strengthen the belief that we are all part of the same collective project. That means building shared fate: helping people see that your success is tied to mine, that we’re all in this together, and we all do better when we all do better.

SHARED FATE
Shared fate is the belief that an individual’s wellbeing and future are connected to the wellbeing and future of others. It reflects a sense that our rights, freedoms, and opportunities rise or fall together—and that collective progress impacts us personally. 

It also means fostering social cohesion so that all Americans feel a sense of belonging, shared values, and shared engagement in civic participation. Research shows that democratic resilience is stronger when societies foster social cohesion, inclusion, and perceptions of shared fate. 

SOCIAL COHESION
Social cohesion refers to the strength of relationships and sense of solidarity within a community, especially across diverse groups. It’s built on shared values, trust, and mutual respect—and fosters belonging, empathy, and a shared commitment to the common good. When people feel connected and see their futures as linked, they are more likely to work together, reduce conflict, and support collective wellbeing.

At Galvanize USA, we empower our audience to stand up for the “other” and embrace a shared identity rooted in the common good, building a resilient and democratic society where everyone can thrive. Here are some examples of how Galvanize USA’s programming fosters social cohesion:

This conversation clip shows our community standing up for both immigrants and unhoused people! Some of the on-camera reactions to these anecdotes really demonstrate how important shared fate is.

I work 7 days a week but still struggle with homelessness. How do I get out of this hole?
When a reader shared that she and her children are living in their car, she received an outpouring of encouragement and support. Instead of othering unhoused people, our community shared that 38% of them have experienced homelessness before and 31% feel worried about becoming homeless.

How To Be A Good Neighbor
In this excellent Grace Note, readers share stories about how they’ve been good neighbors recently. They’re all great, prosocial examples of people furthering social cohesion and shared fate!

Nearly 9 in 10 readers say they are receiving government assistance now (67%) or have in the past (21%). They’re helping readers see that our critical social safety nets aren’t for some mysterious “other,” they’re used by people just like them to help make ends meet.

As you can see in these examples, our efforts focus on building a shared identity, promoting inclusivity, and empowering our audience to challenge harmful narratives and actions. Ultimately, we’re helping them contribute to the fair and just society we all deserve!