This chapter explores how to form effective alliances, even with those who do not fully share your worldview, in order to achieve common objectives.
Allyship
You Cannot Win Alone
Your inner circle is your foundation. But it is not enough. They want you divided. They want you to distrust anyone who looks different, believes differently, lives differently. They want you locked in petty fights while they consolidate their power. And if you fall for it, you lose.
You don’t have to like everyone you ally with. You don’t have to agree on everything. What you do have to do is recognize that a common enemy is more important than minor differences. When the stakes are high, personal grudges are a liability.
Why You Need Allies Beyond Your Inner Circle
Your trusted friends will get you through the worst of it, but they are only part of the equation. Large-scale survival—winning—requires numbers.
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More people means more resources. Skills, connections, supplies—everything multiplies with the right alliances.
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Diversity strengthens movements. If you’re all the same, you have the same blind spots. Different backgrounds bring different strategies.
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You cannot be everywhere at once. A wider network means better protection, more warning systems, and stronger defenses.
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A unified front is harder to break. They can intimidate an individual. They can manipulate a small group. But a coalition? That is a problem for them.
How to Build Strong Alliances
When egos get in the way, the center will not hold. Practice these strategies:
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Look for common ground, not perfection. If you wait for someone who agrees with you on everything, you will stand alone.
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Assess reliability before trust. Just because someone is on your side now does not mean they always will be.
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Don’t let minor differences divide you. If you share an enemy, you share a purpose. Work from there.
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Be useful. Alliances are built on mutual benefit. Bring something to the table.
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Have a clear, shared goal. The strongest alliances are purpose-driven. Define what you’re fighting for, not just what you’re fighting against.
Recognizing When an Alliance is a Trap
Not all allies are real allies. Some are opportunists. Some are infiltrators. Some will turn on you the moment it benefits them. Watch for these red flags:
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They sow distrust and chaos - If someone is always trying to divide people, ask why.
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They demand loyalty but offer none - True alliances are mutual. If they only take, they are not on your side.
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They are unpredictable in a crisis - If they crumble under pressure or switch sides when things get hard, they are a liability.
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They refuse accountability - If they cannot admit when they are wrong, they are not a partner. They are a problem.
First Task: Strengthen an Existing Alliance or Build a New One
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Identify someone outside your inner circle who shares your interests. Start building that connection.
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Offer something useful to a group or movement you support. Show up. Contribute. Strengthen the ties.
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Reach out to someone you would not normally consider an ally. Challenge yourself to see the bigger picture.
"There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests."
— Henry Kissinger
Historical Reflection
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy
For centuries, power in Europe was built on conquest—on kings, armies, and absolute rule. But across the ocean, a different model of governance flourished, one based not on domination but on coalition, shared responsibility, and collective decision-making. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, was one of the oldest and most sophisticated democracies in history. It was not ruled by one leader but by an alliance of nations—proving that power shared is power sustained.
Before the Confederacy, the five nations—the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—were locked in cycles of conflict. Then came the Great Peacemaker, a figure who envisioned a new way of governing. Instead of endless warfare, he proposed unity—a system where each nation retained its autonomy but cooperated on decisions affecting them all. The foundation of this system was The Great Law of Peace, an oral constitution that established principles of representation, consensus-based decision-making, and checks on power. The role of women, particularly the Clan Mothers, was central. They held the authority to choose and remove leaders, ensuring governance remained accountable and just. Later, the Tuscarora joined, making the Confederacy a union of six nations.
For centuries, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy remained stable while European monarchies collapsed under war, corruption, and revolution. Its influence stretched beyond its own people. Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers studied Haudenosaunee governance as a model for the United States, drawn to its balance of power and democratic principles. Even under colonization—despite attacks, forced removals, and broken treaties—the Confederacy endured. It proved that strength does not always come from conquest. It comes from unity. While other Indigenous nations struggled under colonial pressure, the Haudenosaunee maintained resilience through alliance.
This is what happens when people stop fighting alone and start building coalitions. No one nation dominated the others—power was balanced. Women played a central role, ensuring sustainability and accountability. Decisions were made collectively, proving that leadership is strongest when it is shared. While empires rose and fell, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy endured—not through force, but through the wisdom of cooperation.