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Scott Atran

How political leaders use combat spectacles to symbolize national power and purpose

How political leaders use combat spectacles to symbolize national power and purpose

(ANN ARBOR, MI) Throughout history, rulers and political movements have used public spectacles of combat to evoke courage, sacrifice, collective strength and national purpose. From Roman gladiator contests to modern mixed martial arts, combat spectacles have served not merely as entertainment but as public rituals through which people experience belonging
Scott Atran, University of Michigan 17 Jun 2026

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