Dr Mercola in a now deleted post, but one he gives his blessings to other blogs to reproduce with acknowledgement, discusses the idea of mass formation as a prelude to the creation of totalitarian societies. Under mass formation, populations willingly give up their freedom. In summary, there are four conditions. The first condition for mass formation to occur is a “lack of societal bonding. In other words, social isolation on a mass scale, which is precisely what the lockdowns were all about. But even before the pandemic, social isolation was at a historical high. The second condition is that a majority of people must experience life as meaningless and purposeless. The third condition is widespread free-floating anxiety and free-floating discontent. This refers to discontent and anxiety that have no apparent or distinct causes. The fourth condition is free-floating frustration and aggression, which tends to naturally follow the previous three. Here, again, the frustration and aggression have no discernible cause.”
Once these four conditions are widespread, mass formation can occur, which allows for totalitarianism to flourish. Unfortunately, that is where the West is now.