>[!abstract] >The mimetic theory of conflict, an extension of René Girard's mimetic theory of desire, argues that rivalry emerges not from inherent differences but from imitation: as individuals or groups desire the same objects by copying one another, their competition escalates into conflict. Because the object of desire is often secondary to the act of imitation, disputes intensify regardless of the object's intrinsic value, producing cycles of rivalry that can engulf entire communities. Girard posits that such conflicts are often resolved through scapegoating mechanisms, where collective violence is redirected onto a chosen victim, restoring temporary social order while masking the true mimetic origins of the discord. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): [[Mimetic theory of desire]] >- **West** (similar): [[Social contagion]] >- **East** (different): [[Rational choice theory]] >- **South** (downstream): [[Scapegoat mechanism]]