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TriumphalismTriumphalism is the attitude or belief that a particular doctrine, culture, or social system particularly a religious or political oneis superior and that it will or should triumph over all others. The term is occasionally used to refer to excessively demonstrative glee or gloating at the defeat or failure of a rival. Triumphalism is not an articulated doctrine. Humans exhibit triumphalism in its innocuous recreational forms as collective pride (as in school spirit) or in joyful sports fanaticism (Were Number One!). In its more consequential forms, triumphalism is spoken of as a danger both to the group that holds triumphalist beliefs and to the groups that must deal with them. Triumphalism can be enjoyable for those who hold the attitude or belief. For example, people with an extreme sense of patriotism may experience comfort, security, pride, and even virtue in their sense of superiority and inevitable ascendancy. However, the dangers of triumphalism to ones own group include: - Impaired ability to judge the value or morality of the group's actions ("If we're doing it, it must not be wrong.");
- Cessation of creativity and innovation within the group ("We're the best, so we need to stay exactly the way we are and must not change.");
- Blindness to other groups strengths and innovations ("We need not attend to other groups, because we have nothing to learn from them.");
- Inattention to internal weaknesses and to changing circumstances that affect the welfare of the group, perhaps due to psychological denial or to a false sense of security, control, or invulnerability; and
- A tendency to over-reach against the groups competitors, based on an inflated sense of the likelihood of triumph in conflict.
The dangers of triumphalism to other groups include: - Attempts at domination or silencing of other groups; and
- Damage to shared resources inflicted by groups that do not perceive other groups interests to be as valid or legitimate as their own.
Quotations 1994 But not only did Soviet triumphalism eventually provoke the Reaganite reaction in the United States, but, Kissinger suggests, it produced the over- extension of Soviet resources that led directly to economic and ultimately political collapse.
Michael Howard, in Foreign Affairs 2001 A better understanding of science should lead not to triumphalism but to the kind of humility recently expressed by Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Francois Jacob in Of Flies, Mice and Men: "Science cannot answer all questions. . . . It can, however, give some indications, exclude certain hypotheses. Engaging in the pursuit of science may help us make fewer mistakes.
Jon Beckwith, in American Scientist Online 2001 One reason why triumphalism about the fall of the Taliban should be eschewed is because the US and its allies have shown insufficient regret and sadness at the deaths of Afghan villagers. This has allowed the propagandists of Islamic nihilism to claim that the US cares about the deaths of civilians in New York but not in Afghanistan.
The Independent, online news, UK 2004 Yet in addition to being self-defeating, sectarian triumphalism undermines core Jewish values of common peoplehood and mutual bonds between Jews worldwide.
Steven Bayme, in The Jewish Week 2004 The abasement rituals at Abu Ghraib were most generally conditioned by the climate of impunity created by triumphalist strategy, ideology and rhetoric, which led, at least, to dismissive negligence and then cover-ups by authorities.
Dr. Michael A. Weinstein, in The Power and Interest News Report
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