scapegoat mechanism, n.All

Scapegoat mechanism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠no initiation: no one can discover it, only rediscover it, and no credit is due — history does the work.

The Scapegoat mechanism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the zero hour of culture and the zero degree of structure: it steadies the symmetry of rivals and lets order come out of disorder.

Scapegoat mechanism (n.) weakens ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠wherever everyone knows what a scapegoat is: accuse your enemy of "looking for a scapegoat" and the trick has lost much of its power.