[[René Girard]]’s mimetic theory offers a lens through which to examine the dynamics of desire, imitation, and violence. Girard posited that human desires are not inherently individualistic but are instead imitative; we desire objects or statuses because others do, leading to rivalry and conflict. To mitigate the resulting social tensions, civilisation has often employed the [[Scapegoat]] mechanism, uniting against a chosen individual or group to restore harmony. In the case of the Holocaust, the Jewish population became the [[Scapegoat]] for various societal frustrations and economic hardships. Nazi propaganda exacerbated existing prejudices, portraying Jews as the root cause of Germany’s problems. This dehumanization facilitated widespread acceptance of their persecution and extermination as a means to achieve societal cohesion. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`