The meaning of tribalism?

Question

"Three decades ago, we suffered defeat in an unwinnable war against tribalism, the most fanatic of political emotions, fighting against a country about which we knew nothing and in which we had no vital interests. Vietnam was hopeless enough..."

I would like to know the word "tribalism" in the above quotation. To me, it is a sociological concept referring to tribal, uncivilized elements of human beings. We fight with those ways of thinking, or emotions. But some say it refers to Vietnam as a tribal society, because we did fight against that country.

Answer 1

well when i searched up tribalism it came up with tribal lifewhich ment:

     the customs, beliefs, and social organization of a tribe or social group.

then i searched it up on a different website and it said:

          The organization, culture, or beliels of a tribe.

HOPE IT HELPS!!!