Tribalism versus religion

When you look at the dynamics in the Mideast I would argue that tribalism, not religion is at the root. Even though Zionism and Islamic fundamentalism appear to be religiously based, they mostly are definitions of "tribes." I mean that as a socio-political/cultural term not an ethnic one. The same is true for N. Ireland and perhaps even the Rep. and Dem. parties in the U.S.

1) Given the way the modern media plays up our differences, is society becoming more tribal?

2) Aren't political party and religious affiliations mostly labels of tribal affiliation? (Nazi, Baathist, Protestent, Catholic, Muslim, Jew, Republican, Democrat, Crips or Blood, etc.)

3) Is the Western vs. Arab world the same dynamic?

4)Are the seeds for U.S. vs. Europe tribalism sewn? (i.e. European opposition to Iraq war, Freedom Fries, old Europe?

>>I would argue that tribalism, not religion is at the root. <<

Yes, but as Eddie Izzard said about the NRA dictum that people kill people, not guns: "I think the gun *helps*." The source of conflict in the middle east is not only land, but the fact that this disputed land is being contested for between two groups most definitely identified by their religious affiliation. Israel is a Jewish state, period. All the countries around them are mainly Islamic with small pockets of other religions (in countries, that is, that haven't outlawed other religions).

You could use 'tribalism' to describe nearly any grouping effect among people. All of us long-haired headbangers back in the late 70s were most certainly our own tribe. Then we decided we needed to eat and pay the rent more regularly, and the tribe kinda dissipated. (This sounds like a silly analogy, but it works to a degree. I distinctly recall the suspicious looks I got after admitting I liked a Devo album!)