I always enjoy these low-citation think pieces. It’s not that I think the author is wrong, it’s that they’re producing a philosophical argument about the real world. It should have citations and references to studies that support the thesis, but it’s a “just trust me bro”. The ideas are usually fun, but they tell you more about the author than the world.
Having said that: I don’t think the tribalism the author described ever went away. We have a two tiered society where the in-group is the main tribe, and everyone else gets battered about by its power.
Of course I’m talking about white rich dudes - if you’re part of the moneyed set, or look pretty close to them, then you’re probably going to get the easy version of justice. If you’re a bit different, then you’re part of the Other tribe, and you get harassed by the police, shat on by the media, and a weaker form of justice.
And no, I’m not gonna cite anything, because the original author didn’t either.