The rise of ‘Kirkifying’ means Charlie Kirk’s image is suddenly everywhere (youtube.com)
'Sacralization and Mobilization Theory. The theory suggests that an individual's death or extreme suffering is often necessary to transform a political or religious cause from a set of abstract ideas into a sacred, moral, and unifying movement.
'The Power of the "Second Witness". The crucial theoretical component is that a martyr's power is not inherent in their death, but in the narrative constructed by the surviving community. ... The Transformation: The surviving group (the "second witness") then co-opts, interprets, and magnifies the death, transforming the victim from a mere casualty into an Icon (a figure of collective identity) and a Symbol (representing the pure, non-negotiable moral boundary of the group).
'The sacrifice of the martyr justifies the legitimacy of the new rule or movement, acting as a catalyst for change by generating emotional and moral energy.
'Martyrdom is most powerful when used by a group or leader that perceives itself as weak, oppressed, or in an inferior position against a superior enemy.
'Rallying Cry: Dying on behalf of a cause signals the unjust suffering of the innocent and serves as a powerful rallying cry. It unites the followers through a shared sense of victimization and moral righteousness.
'Moral High Ground: The claim of martyrdom allows a group to employ aggressive or violent actions while still maintaining the moral high ground in the narrative, claiming they are merely victims fighting back against the "evil" oppressor.
'Modern Authoritarianism: Aspiring authoritarian figures will often rhetorically create "martyrs" (or exaggerate the suffering of their followers) by relentlessly portraying their opponents as an "existential threat" to the "true people." This rhetorical victimhood justifies purging, intimidating, or otherwise acting outside of established democratic rules.'