Divide and Conquer Strategy, also known as “Divide and Rule Strategy” is often applied in the arenas of politics and sociology. In Divide and Conquer Strategy one power breaks another power into smaller, more manageable pieces, and then takes control of those pieces one by one. It generally takes a very strong power to implement Divide and Conquer Strategy. In order to successfully break up another power or government, the conqueror must have access to strong political, military, and economic machines.

Furthermore, in order to maintain power and influence, large governments will often work to keep smaller powers and governments from uniting. In fact, this use of the principles within the Divide and Conquer Strategy is most common. It is much easier to prevent small powers from linking forces than to break them apart once they have aligned.

Leaders who utilize Divide and Conquer Strategy may encourage or foster feuds between smaller powers. This kind of political maneuvering requires a great understanding of the peoples who are being manipulated. In order to foster feuds, for example, one must understand the political and social histories of the parties intended to take part in the feuds.

Divide and Conquer Strategy also includes methods with which to control the funds and resources of the small conquered parties. For example, a powerful leader may encourage a less powerful leader to make unwise financial decisions in order to drain the smaller power’s resources. This is often successful if the leaders of the smaller powers have inflated egos and delusions of grandeur. It is important to note that this form of Divide and Conquer strategy is only effective if the smaller power allows itself to be influenced by the larger power.

Divide and Conquer Strategy was used widely by the Roman and British empires. Both superpowers played small tribes and groups against one another in order to control their lands and territories. Divide and Conquer Strategy was used by the Romans when they took Britain, when the British Empire took India, and when the Anglo-Normans took Ireland. Divide and Conquer Strategy is a staple political strategy and is still used by many countries today.