Mahtab’s review of Among the Thugs > Likes and Comments
57 likes · Like
That is definitely a disturbing sociological phenomenon. Strangely it seems like a similar, cascading social dynamic that could result in positive social movements, under the right conditions. I’m reminded of Eric Hoffer’s book The True Believer, which might be interesting for you
path wrote: "That is definitely a disturbing sociological phenomenon. Strangely it seems like a similar, cascading social dynamic that could result in positive social movements, under the right conditions. I’m ..."
While I was reading this, I kept thinking about how much collective energy is being wasted — or worse, funneled into destruction. Buford’s account makes it impossible to ignore the sheer organizational potential inside these groups: the coordination, the shared identity, the rapid mobilization, the willingness to dissolve into a larger force. In another context, those same dynamics are exactly what drive political reform, social movements, and even revolutionary change.
Durkheim would call this phenomenon “collective effervescence” — that moment when individuals merge into a single, highly responsive organism. Historically, that kind of energy has toppled regimes, fueled civil-rights movements, and reshaped entire societies. The mechanism itself is neutral; what determines its impact is the motivation behind it. In Buford’s case, the motivation is little more than adrenaline and spectacle, which makes the wasted potential feel even sharper.
So the book ends up illustrating not only how crowds become violent, but how powerful they could be if their energy were anchored to purpose rather than thrill.
And thank you for bringing The True Believer to my attention, I’ll definitely check it out.
Yes. I like how you have articulated it.
As I think about this some more, I wonder if there are two mechanisms at play here that might both be captured in "collective effervescence." One is the initial impulse that results in emergent social behavior. I'm not sure that is always conscious, sometimes it is just easy to become entrained by another's actions. But then the second mechanism seems to be a reinforcement where the enjoyment of being part of the collective (perhaps tribal, as you rightly say) reinforces both participation in the collective and the integrity of the collective itself.
Interesting stuff. If I wanted to read more on "collective effervescence" what Durkheim would you recommend to me?
path wrote: "Yes. I like how you have articulated it.
As I think about this some more, I wonder if there are two mechanisms at play here that might both be captured in "collective effervescence." One is the i..."
I think you’re right that there’s both an initial entrainment — that almost unconscious pull into the group — and a reinforcing loop that sustains the collective once it forms.
I believe the best place to start is The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. What stands out to me is how Durkheim grounds his analysis in Indigenous Australian rituals, yet the framework he develops is meant to illuminate how all societies generate and renew social cohesion. Modern scholars apply his concept to everything from political rallies to social movements to the emotional choreography of mass gatherings in secular contexts.
And if you decide to read it, I’d recommend the Karen E. Fields translation. It avoids the stiff, archaic phrasing of older editions and corrects several historical translation issues, which makes Durkheim’s arguments much clearer and more alive on the page.
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
path
(new)
Dec 30, 2025 04:40PM
That is definitely a disturbing sociological phenomenon. Strangely it seems like a similar, cascading social dynamic that could result in positive social movements, under the right conditions. I’m reminded of Eric Hoffer’s book The True Believer, which might be interesting for you
reply
|
flag
path wrote: "That is definitely a disturbing sociological phenomenon. Strangely it seems like a similar, cascading social dynamic that could result in positive social movements, under the right conditions. I’m ..."While I was reading this, I kept thinking about how much collective energy is being wasted — or worse, funneled into destruction. Buford’s account makes it impossible to ignore the sheer organizational potential inside these groups: the coordination, the shared identity, the rapid mobilization, the willingness to dissolve into a larger force. In another context, those same dynamics are exactly what drive political reform, social movements, and even revolutionary change.
Durkheim would call this phenomenon “collective effervescence” — that moment when individuals merge into a single, highly responsive organism. Historically, that kind of energy has toppled regimes, fueled civil-rights movements, and reshaped entire societies. The mechanism itself is neutral; what determines its impact is the motivation behind it. In Buford’s case, the motivation is little more than adrenaline and spectacle, which makes the wasted potential feel even sharper.
So the book ends up illustrating not only how crowds become violent, but how powerful they could be if their energy were anchored to purpose rather than thrill.
And thank you for bringing The True Believer to my attention, I’ll definitely check it out.
Yes. I like how you have articulated it. As I think about this some more, I wonder if there are two mechanisms at play here that might both be captured in "collective effervescence." One is the initial impulse that results in emergent social behavior. I'm not sure that is always conscious, sometimes it is just easy to become entrained by another's actions. But then the second mechanism seems to be a reinforcement where the enjoyment of being part of the collective (perhaps tribal, as you rightly say) reinforces both participation in the collective and the integrity of the collective itself.
Interesting stuff. If I wanted to read more on "collective effervescence" what Durkheim would you recommend to me?
path wrote: "Yes. I like how you have articulated it. As I think about this some more, I wonder if there are two mechanisms at play here that might both be captured in "collective effervescence." One is the i..."
I think you’re right that there’s both an initial entrainment — that almost unconscious pull into the group — and a reinforcing loop that sustains the collective once it forms.
I believe the best place to start is The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. What stands out to me is how Durkheim grounds his analysis in Indigenous Australian rituals, yet the framework he develops is meant to illuminate how all societies generate and renew social cohesion. Modern scholars apply his concept to everything from political rallies to social movements to the emotional choreography of mass gatherings in secular contexts.
And if you decide to read it, I’d recommend the Karen E. Fields translation. It avoids the stiff, archaic phrasing of older editions and corrects several historical translation issues, which makes Durkheim’s arguments much clearer and more alive on the page.
