Alternate meaning: People (magazine)

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In general, the English word people refers to a specific group of humans, or to persons in a general sense.

A people is also the problematic concept of a group of humans which are united by some common factor, for example nationality, skin colour or a common culture. For example the Christian Bible refers to the people of Moses. The individuals of the people are assumed to share values and beliefs and be aware of the fact that they are part of the group.

Because of the intuitive strength of this concept, it has often been used as a basis for various arguments trying to promote one issue or another. In the West, a recent notable example is the German Nazi Party's propaganda against the Jews in the 1930s and 1940s.

See also: ethnic group