factionalism
Factionalism refers to the tendency within a group—such as a political party, government, movement, or organization—to form subgroups or factions that pursue competing interests, identities, or leaders. These factions may push for preferred policies, personnel, or constituencies, sometimes at the expense of the broader group’s goals. Factionalism often arises where resources are perceived as scarce, ideologies or strategies diverge, decision-making is weak, or leadership contests create incentives for loyalty to a faction rather than to the whole.
Causes include resource competition, ideological or strategic disagreements, patronage networks, social identity dynamics, geographic or factional
Consequences can be mixed and context-dependent. In some cases, factionalism obstructs consensus, delays or derails policy,
Contexts and examples include political parties and parliaments, local or national governments, civil society movements, religious
Mitigation focuses on inclusive decision-making, transparent resource distribution, clear leadership-selection rules, dispute-resolution channels, and accountability mechanisms.