Grievance

Definition

A complaint or feeling of injustice, often related to workplace issues, social movements, or political dissatisfaction.

The most common means to stir populist political action. See the topic Fairness in the wiki Politics.

Context

Grievance or resentment has historically been a powerful catalyst for political action. It taps into emotions like frustration, anger, or fear, mobilizing people who feel marginalized or wronged. Movements often gain momentum by highlighting injustices—whether real or perceived—and rallying support around the promise of addressing them.

Grievance-based politics revolves around mobilizing resentment or perceived injustices to gain political support. Instead of focusing on problem-solving or collective progress, it often amplifies negative emotions like fear, anger, or frustration. This approach can be seen across the political spectrum, where leaders or movements channel grievances against elites, minorities, or opposing ideologies2.

While grievances can highlight real issues, relying solely on them risks deepening divisions and undermining political unity. It shifts the focus from constructive dialogue to emotional appeals, which can make it harder to address societal challenges effectively

A new breed of extremist in 2022 sparked the deadliest wave of U.S. political violence in decades. These self-made radicals, mixing right-wing conspiracy theories and marginal beliefs, forgo logic and coherence in favor of personal grievances.

History

• 2025 - The Edelman Trust Barometer shows that a sense Grievance is rising as Trust is falling, primarily in the developed world.

The political split in Western countries started as a Monarchy on one hand, and the landed gentry on the other. As the merchants, and then the workers were enfranchised to vote, the split became between the landed aristocracy and those with less privilege. The split changed as voting would extend to more and more of the population from the conservatives (privileged) and the liberals or progress (less privileged). This has changed in the 21st century to Identity Politics.

These groups can be mobilized effectively, but they also risk radicalization, exclusionary policies, and moral distortion, where the ends justify increasingly harmful means.

Problems

When a group is built around resentment or grievance, it often becomes defined more by what it opposes than by what it affirms. This can lead to powerful cohesion—but also dangerous fragmentation.

Psychological Glue

Shared resentment creates a strong emotional bond. Members feel validated in their pain, anger, or perceived injustice.

It offers a clear identity: “We are not them.” This oppositional stance simplifies complex realities into binary narratives.

The group may develop internal loyalty and external hostility, reinforcing in-group solidarity while vilifying outsiders.

Risks and Consequences

Echo chambers form, where dissent is punished and nuance disappears.

Victimhood becomes central to identity, making healing or compromise feel like betrayal.

Leaders may exploit grievance to maintain control, stoking outrage to prevent introspection or reform.

If a group starts with a policy but is fueled by Grievance, anger and resentment, eventually the policy will fade away and all that is left is the Grievance. Over time, the group tends to become ideologically brittle, unable to adapt or evolve because its cohesion depends on sustained Grievance.

Movements like ethno-nationalist populism, grievance-based identity politics, or resentment-fueled factions often emerge in response to perceived loss—of status, culture, or power.

Solutions

Groups that start from grievance can evolve—if they shift toward:

• Positive visioning: Articulating what they want to build, not just what they oppose.
• Inclusive narratives: Recognizing shared humanity beyond the initial wound.
• Accountability and healing: Addressing the root causes of resentment without weaponizing them.

Resentment is a long emotion—it sticks. But if a group can transform its pain into purpose, it might move from grievance to growth.