It was heavily used by British Empire in India and elsewhere.

The goal is either to pit the lower classes against themselves to prevent a revolution, or to provide a desired solution to the growing discord that strengthens the power of the elites. In politics, the concept refers to a strategy that breaks up existing power structures, and especially prevents smaller power groups from linking up, causing rivalries and fomenting discord among the people to prevent a rebellion against the elites or the people implementing the strategy.

Once the alliance weakens or dissolves, a vacuum will allow the state to achieve military dominance. This usually happens when propaganda is disseminated within the enemy states in an attempt to raise doubts about the alliance. The concept is also mentioned as a strategy for market action in economics to get the most out of the players in a competitive market.Дivide and rule can be used by states to weaken enemy military alliances.

Immanuel Kant was an advocate of this tactic, noting that 'the problem of setting up a state can be solved even by a nation of devils' so long as they possess an appropriate constitution which pits opposing factions against each other with a system of checks and balances. Historically, this strategy was used in many different ways by empires seeking to expand their territories. James Madison made this recommendation in a letter to Thomas Jefferson of 24 October 1787, which summarized the thesis of The Federalist#10: 'Divide et impera, the reprobated axiom of tyranny, is under certain some qualifications, the only policy, by which a republic can be administered on just principles.' In Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch by Immanuel Kant 1795, Appendix one, Divide et impera is the third of three political maxims, the others being Fac et excusa Act now, and make excuses later and Si fecisti, nega If you commit a crime, deny it.ДЄiding and promoting those who are willing to cooperate with the sovereignДЇostering distrust and enmity between local rulersД¬reating or encouraging divisions among the subjects to prevent alliances that could challenge the sovereignД®ncouraging meaningless expenditures that reduce the capability for political and military spending In a minor variation, Sir Francis Bacon wrote the phrase 'separa et impera' in a letter to James I of 15 February 1615. Explosum est illud diverbium: Divide, & impera, cum radix & vertex imperii in obedientium consensu rata sunt. Edward Coke denounces it in Chapter I of the Fourth Part of the Institutes of the Lawes of England, reporting that when it was demanded by the Lords and Commons what might be a principal motive for them to have good success in Parliament, it was answered: Eritis insuperabiles, si fueritis inseparabiles. The strategy of division and rule has been attributed to sovereigns, ranging from Louis XI of France to the House of Habsburg. Strabo also reports in Geographica, 8.7.3 that the Achaean League was gradually dissolved under the Roman possession of the whole of Macedonia, owing to their not dealing with the several states in the same way, but wishing to preserve some and to destroy others. The strategy, but not the phrase, applies in many ancient cases: the example of Aulus Gabinius exists, parting the Jewish nation into five conventions, reported by Flavius Josephus in Book I, 169вЂ“170 of The Jewish War De bello Judaico. It was utilised by the Roman ruler Julius Caesar and the French emperor Napoleon together with the maxim divide ut regnes The maxim divide et impera has been attributed to Philip II of Macedon. Machiavelli advises that this act should be achieved either by making him suspicious of his men in whom he trusted, or by giving him cause that he has to separate his forces, and, because of this, become weaker. Niccolo Machiavelli identifies a similar application to military strategy, advising in Book VI of The Art of War 1521 Larte della guerra: a Captain should endeavor with every art to divide the forces of the enemy. The use of this technique is meant to empower the sovereign to control subjects, populations, or factions of different interests, who collectively might be able to oppose his rule. Divide and rule, or divide and conquer, in politics and sociology is gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into pieces that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.

Divide et impera wiki