Projecting the Shadow

One of the most dangerous aspects of human society is the rampant tendency to project one’s own shadow onto “the other,” onto other states, cultures, individuals, groups or societies, rendering onto them all of the worst, most vile characteristics that lie hidden in one’s own shadow. While this certainly happens at an individual level, it has created horrific consequences when it involves the projection of the collective shadow: wars, genocides, torture, rape and more are the consequences of shadow projection.