It’s all tribes.

Not ideologies.
Not countries.
Not borders.
Not even leaders.

Just tribes.

Sports fans get this intuitively.

I do wonder if this concept — the core unit of the network state — can get more traction if a different term is used? 

My observation is that most people would not proudly say they are a part of a “tribe”

But the thing you are isolating *is* something people are proud of

building /bracket | talking /greatbooks | ex-BCG, ex-PHD | poli + phil + econ

I actually personally agree with you. 

But main concern for me is how "tribal" is used to describe (1) exceptionally irrational and unproductive contests (eg US partisan politics) and (2) pre-civilized peoples (eg Geico's Caveman).

But I also checked GPT-4 and the answer seems super fair. Quite impressive really:

Tribe isn’t that negative in connotation. Depends on context. 

Find your tribe, found your tribe — the former is a common phrase.