Definition:
Scapegoating is the practice of assigning blame for complex social, economic, or political problems to a specific group or individual, often one with limited power to respond.
Usage Context:
Appears in political discourse, media narratives, workplace cultures, and institutional failures where responsibility is displaced downward or outward.
Critical Note:
Scapegoating simplifies accountability while protecting those with actual power. By personalising systemic failure, it fractures solidarity and diverts attention from structural causes.