# 55. Induced Animosity ## 55.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 55.5.8. Dancing Bears This is the use of political "operatives" to foment or sustain opposition to a person, movement, or party. It is used by a political operator who having infiltrated a group, then acts as an extreme caricature of that group in order to reduce that group's attraction to the general public. The tactic often plays on people's tendency to make a bivalent (either-or) choice. It was pioneered in Russia. One example is the use of the ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the party LDP, his purpose was to marginalise ultra-nationalism and make politicians like Vladimir Putin look "moderate" by providing a foil. A possible consequence of this tactic may be the public's sentiment that "politics is just a circus", disenchanting citizens and dissuading them from any interest or activity in politics.