gangels (X) Dec 14, 2009:

Good explanation, Arthur ...but also enemy stereotypes thrown into sharp relief to one's own uniqueness/exalted status/turf supremacy.

The full sentence would help.

ArturderEngel Dec 14, 2009:

Agree with your working version, David. "Feindbild", a term used in discussing Freudian projection and often left untranslated, has been summarised as "a stereotyped image of one's opponent", (equivalent to English to "bogey man"?) While Ausgrenzungprojektion is used in analysing the way that (national) identity is formed by defining 'the other', 'who we are not' (see Lokale Kulturen in einer globalisierenden Welt by Rainer Alsheimer for a discussion of the formation of the Swiss national identity).

Dr Lofthouse Dec 14, 2009:

would the word 'foreign' or 'alien' work in your context?

Lancashireman Dec 14, 2009:

One way of putting it: ... identifying what arouses their hostility and causes them to close ranks ...

BTW, are you sure the text says "herausgearbeiten"?

David Williams (asker) Dec 14, 2009:

Working version: a projection of their concept of the enemy and how they differentiated themselves from others