Group cohesion is necessary for human flourishing, but that's not what tribalism means in the current moment.
The tribalism of our current moment manifests as over-identification with the shibboleths of one's in-group, the narcissism of small differences and the assumption that differences in cultural and political identification indicate a fundamental lack of moral character in the people who don't engage in the same patterns of social signaling that we do.
If you're looking for a word to stand in for the shared sense of purpose that fosters human flourishing, I would suggest asabiyyah.
After Contrarianism
Group cohesion is necessary for human flourishing, but that's not what tribalism means in the current moment.
The tribalism of our current moment manifests as over-identification with the shibboleths of one's in-group, the narcissism of small differences and the assumption that differences in cultural and political identification indicate a fundamental lack of moral character in the people who don't engage in the same patterns of social signaling that we do.
If you're looking for a word to stand in for the shared sense of purpose that fosters human flourishing, I would suggest asabiyyah.