Rulers have always invented an enemy to keep people together. The US is a very diverse group of people, and the way the government held the country together was by having an enemy. The Colombian drug barons, such as Pablo Escobar, have done their bit to keep the US united. Having enemies can also help combat boredom. It made their otherwise dull lives more exciting,' she said.
Enemies can also make people feel that they matter.
Rowe worked in a psychiatric hospital, where old people knew no one was thinking of them, and found that frightening. Having a hate-figure can also make us feel better about ourselves. People give their enemies all the characteristics that they have trouble with themselves - whether it's being sadistic, aggressive or manipulative. For example, if you're feeling guilty about having some malicious thoughts, it's comforting to believe Saddam Hussein is the embodiment of pure evil and that we are less cunning than Peter Mandelson. A good enemy can also help people cope with their failings in life, by simply taking the blame for everything.