Submitted by People’s Democratic Congress (PDC)
This week’s focus is on a type of political psychology that can be described as Machiavellian politics, and on the extent to which it does have relevance to Barbadian politics – using Robert Greene’s book – The 48 Laws of Power, as a theoretical fulcrum from which to assess such relevance. The primary reasons why we in the PDC have decided so early in this series of articles to touch on this area are:
1) to highlight a type and method of politics/psychology in the body politic of this country in which at this juncture there is no specialized, evidence-based literature on the instances of, the causes/effects of, and the local political figures involved in these local political machinations and deceptions – the only literature that comes close are Angela/Gary Cole’s – the Khaki Boys, etc;
2) to educate and inform as many people in Barbados and elsewhere as possible – out of those who are unaware – as to the fact that it is ideologized and practiced – one one extreme – with brute force, and on the other extreme – with cunning guile – in almost every sphere and institution in every country, political parties, churches, families, masonic lodges, etc., and by countless people, esp. political leaders and other personalities, in those spheres and institutions;
3)to let as many people in Barbados and elsewhere as possible – out of those who are unaware – as to the fact that its counterpart in international relations is REALISM/the realist theory.
Wikipedia, in citing the Oxford English Dictionary definition for Machiavellianism, states that it is the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct, deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe (The Prince) and other works. Wikipedia also puts forward that, in psychology, Machiavellianism is “a term that some social and personality psychologists use to describe a person’s tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain.”
As for Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) himself, he was an Italian philosopher/writer, and is considered one of the main founders of modern political science (Wikipedia).
Robert Greene in the preface to the said book, The 48 Laws of Power, states that learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective; that it takes effort and years of practice, for much of the game may come naturally; that certain basic skills are required, and that once you master these skills you will be able to apply the laws of power more easily.
He goes on to say the most of these skills , and power’s crucial foundation, is the ability to master your emotions; that anger is the most destructive of emotional responses, for it clouds your vision the most; that love and affection are also potentially destructive, in that, they blind you to the often self-serving interests of those whom you suspect of playing a power game; power requires the ability to play with appearances – to this end you must learn to wear many masks and keep a bag full of deceptive tricks; that half of your mastery of power comes from what you do NOT do, what you do NOT allow yourself to get dragged into – for this skill, you must learn to judge all things by what they cost you.
He also states that power is a social game; to learn and master it, you must develop the ability to study and understand people; and that you must learn to take the indirect route to power – DISGUISE YOUR CUNNING – by training yourself to be indirect, you can thrive in the modern court, appearing the paragon of decency while being the consummate manipulator.
He finishes this preface by providing a statement from out of the Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli himself –
“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.”
It must be realized by now that Mr. Greene was writing about personal power – as that they are different types of power – physical, natural, legal, etc. Anyhow we will quickly list for the benefit of persons reading this article, 24 of these “laws”:
1) NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER (LAW 1)
2) NEVER PUT TO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS (LAW 2)
3) CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS (LAW 3)
4) ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY (LAW 4)
5) SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION – GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE (LAW
6) COURT ATTENTION AT ALL COST (LAW 6)
7) GET OTHERS TO WORK FOR YOU – BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE CREDIT (LAW
8) MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU – USE BAIT IF NECESSARY (LAW 8)
9) WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT (LAW 9)
10) LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU (LAW 11)
11) POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY (LAW 14)
12) CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY (LAW 15)
13) USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR (LAW 16)
14) DO NOT COMMIT TO ANY ONE (LAW 20)
15) PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER – SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK (lAW 21)
16) RE-CREATE YOUR SELF (LAW 25)
17) KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN (LAW 26)
18) PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES (LAW 32)
19) MASTER THE ART OF TIMING (LAW 35)
20) DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE (LAW 36)
21) DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH (LAW 40)
22) STRIKE THE SHEPERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER (LAW 42)
23) DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFECT (LAW 44)
24) NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT (LAW 46)
Now having stated these “laws”, it is clear that many of them would have been learned – to varying degrees of success – by DLP leaders like the late Errol Barrow and Cameron Tudor, who was labelled by some as the Kingmaker, the present Prime Minister, David Thompson, and BLP leaders like the late Tom Adams, and former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, or the particular Machiavellian political psychological behaviour synonymous with these “laws” – with a view to doing exactly or almost exactly what these “laws” require of them or to find vindication in these “laws”. Most of these “laws” would have been carried out by these and other leaders in the country, and by some of their underlings/followers, or through the same Machiavellian political psychological behaviour altogether designed to promote – almost successfully – the cult of the leader/ and the virtual maximum leader of the parties and governments concerned.
But, such events or scenarios as described just above must be placed in a wider global, political, social, historical, environmental, biological arena – meaning, then, that – whether we are here in Barbados or elsewhere, these “laws” will be relevant or made relevant owing to the fact that human beings almost everywhere, whether Black, White, Brown, Yellow, poor or rich, male or female, and whether found within various institutions, processes and organizations, are filled with envy, jealousy, greed, malice, are power hungry, self-centered, controlling, etc. even if some of them pretend not to be so, such that by these very facts no human engineered laws any where would have been able to on the whole stop these attributes from in whatever ways being directed against one another other than they themselves – thus endless conflict and tension.
But, even these so-called 48 Laws of Power – it can be argued – are based on the writer’s or by extension the human being’s foibles, fears, anxieties, and prejudices. However, to get back to Barbados – some commenters on here or readers of this article must remember the days when Tom Adams neutralized Don Blackman. They must remember too when Errol Barrow abolished local government as some said to get the “rid” of E D Mottley. When Barrow said after he was Sandi, then Richie, and how after them any other number can play.
Owen Arthur and his demoting of Mia Mottley after it was found in a so-called national public opinion poll that she was gaining in so-called popularity. And David Thompson’s fatted calf perspective and his undermining of Clyde Mascoll’s leadership in the DLP. And there are innumerable other instances of deceptive, seductive, manipulative, big stick Machiavellian politics being played out here in Barbados – too numerous to mention here.
Finally, it is clear that Machiavellian politics plays a significant role in the political mystique and drama presented in some of the political power plays in this country; in the fomenting of political deceit, skulduggery and rivalry among political combatants in all political spheres, and in the manipulative conditioning of the political structures of this country.
So, it is high time that the broad masses and middle classes on the whole get to sufficiently understand these types of behaviours almost whenever they are seen or felt or perceived by them, and with a view to turning the tables on these so-called leaders, the damned DLP and the Blasted BLP, and any others that have long practiced this type of devious politics.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.