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'''Demonization''' is when a [[demagogue]], or group of demagogues, paints their ideological enemies or [[scapegoats]] in terms intended to render them as irredeemably evil and fit only for destruction, which is usually presented as 'self-defense'. Possibly the best-known example of demonization in the 20th century was the [[Nazi]]s' demonization of [[Jews]], which played off of existing [[antisemitism]] for political gain and eventually led to the [[Holocaust]].
== Advantages of demonization for an unscrupulous politician ==
*Gives followers an easy target for all their pent-up frustration.
*Distracts them from any real causes for their problems which you may not be able or willing to cure.
*If the demonized group is a political rival, reduces the risk that followers will defect to the rivals' group.
==Recent examples==
A reviewer of [[Barbara Olson]]'s, ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'' Regnery Publishing (1999) wrote,
{{Cquote|Olson discusses the Clintons' method of dealing with enemies, which is straight out of the writings of [[left-wing]] crank [[Saul Alinsky]]: demonize, polarize, and destroy. Witness [[Ken Starr]], [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Paula Jones]], ''et al''. Olson, a former Senate counsel who investigated the Clinton Administration's FBI file caper and Travel Office fiasco <ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg34192.html ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton'',] Reviews, retrieved 05/21/07.</ref>}}
==See also==
*[[Hillary Clinton]]
*[[Bill Clinton]]
*[[Saul Alinsky]]
==Further reading==
*[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-hayward032703.asp Old Liberalism, R.I.P.,]Steven F. Hayward, ''National Review Online'', March 27, 2003
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904228-4,00.html Radical Saul Alinsky: Prophet of Power to the People,] ''TIME'', Mar. 02, 1970.
[[Category:Politics]]