Economic expert Suleiman Al-Shahoumi said that societal values and common bonds form the underlying basis for the interaction and collective action of the masses, citing what Gustave Le Bon discussed in his book “The Psychology of Crowds” about the role of religion, customs, and inherited behaviors in shaping societies’ reactions when they are infringed upon.
In a Facebook post, Al-Shahoumi explained that these elements are sometimes exploited to steer crowds in specific directions, making the “collective mind” the primary driver of mobilization. This is achieved by stirring emotions and transforming them into demands purported to represent the people’s interests, whether to achieve prosperity, enhance security, support religious or regional tendencies, or to attain power.
He noted that a rational individual might abandon their conscious awareness to respond to the will of an incited crowd, even if the methods used are unethical or inhumane. In fact, they may sometimes be characterized by chaos and the exclusion of other segments of society.
Al-Shahoumi stressed that the priority in the phase of rebuilding Libyan society lies in establishing a system of shared cultural and human values that reinforces clear pillars and unifying principles within the collective mind, thereby supporting peaceful coexistence.