7.1 The Political Process                                                                                    Version 1.1 March 2012

 

 

Politics arises in all groups of people, as they work out the pecking order and compete for resources or reputation.  Here we are concerned about politics on a corporate, state, national or global level, including the political control of business and economics at all levels.

The foundation of the political process is an underlying respect for the equality of all people.  We must oppose inappropriate discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, class, caste, or disability.  This does not exclude discrimination on the basis of merit, ability, initiative and industriousness, in education, employment, housing etc.

Despite our skepticism of self interested political parties, politics requires a core of integrity – honesty and a commitment to keeping promises, .  Democracy has a special requirement for truth.  In international politics, diplomacy is said to be lying for your country.  In domestic politics, in both democratic and totalitarian countries, politicians often don’t clearly state the truth, saying what is their own personal or party interests or what the electorate wants to hear (so they will be re-elected).  In the bargaining process that is practical politics there may be ambit claims, and tactical use of the truth.  But still we should not blatantly lie – it is tactically bad to get caught.  It is practically difficult in complex situations to maintain a consistent lie where many people are involved.  This is why spin doctors, talking points and in-house team builders are required to present a united front to the “outside”.  But all the major problems we face are complex ones for major organizations – big corporations, governments, global NGOs and the human race as a whole.

War is described as an extension of politics by other means, but is reflects a political failure.  If a situation results in war the outcome is uncontrollable, even to the major superpowers, and the suffering on both sides is generally out of proportion to the causes behind the war.  If a war does not end in total unconditional surrender then it will eventually be resolved in political discussions.  In the case or a resounding victory and defeat, political management is required to avoid a return to the situation that caused the war.  Politics is essential to life.

Our political goals, what we want to achieve, must be based on core values such as truth, compassion, justice and mercy.  Political goals are also be related to survival and prosperity, for ourselves and out children.  Many people suffer political oppression and poverty due to ignorant, corrupt, autocratic, inefficient and immoral regimes that are life threatening.  Our goals are greater equality and social justice, increased prosperity for the poor, and less environmental impact.  It is not realistic to hope for universal everlasting peace and harmony, but we can validly aspire to reduce the suffering in the world and improve our global political management.  In affluent democratic countries, national politics is now more likely to be about who can most effectively manage the economy, with a few social justice and personal morality issues on the side, with little focus on global issues.

Our political analysis, what we understand to be the current situation, must be based on science and history.  The strategic choices we make are limited by our circumstances: they depends upon what we know.  If we are unaware of an option we cannot choose it.  If we misunderstand the issues we will make errors of judgment.  Many national governments and corporate leaders are ignoring environmental threats from over population, increasing resource use per capita, global warming and other global pollution issues.  Many also ignore the increasing awareness and anger in the increasing number of disenfranchised poverty stricken peoples.  Most of us are now aware of the risks of nuclear war, catastrophes in nuclear energy plants and nuclear terrorism.  Financial and other crises could lead to a fortress mentality, isolationism, protectionism and policies of exclusion.  A global analysis is required: focusing on a local problem is better than total paralysis, but could be diverting resources away from critical issues for the whole planet, and those able to attend to the wider issues should do so.

Our political strategy, how we will achieve our goals, must reflect what is possible and effective, based on science and history, and what is moral, based on values such as the truth, compassion, justice, responsibility, freedom, democracy, and the value of stability.  Many reformers are blindly wedded to ineffective strategies based on unrealistic goals – like releasing the energies of communities to bring in an era of universal harmony.  Other ineffective strategies are based on ignorance of science, history, politics and economics. 

Game theory, such as the study of the repeated prisoner’s dilemma, can provide useful guidance on strategies to deal with recalcitrant parties in political negotiations.

Our political commitment, how much effort we are prepared to expend, will vary from one to another, from dedicating our lives to the cause, to occasional activism, to voting, to mere verbal support.  Stopping at the point we become uncomfortable seems like a good measure.  Global problems require global strategies; regional issues require local attention; but in all cases effecting a positive outcome requires the work of individuals on a day to day basis.

There is a lot of rubbish in politics: people’s goals can be selfish or benefit their own clan or party, their analysis can be flawed due to ignorance of philosophy, science and history and religious bigotry or fanaticism, their strategies flaws, because they persist with ineffective and unskillful approaches, and their commitment is restricted to getting others to do the work and endure the cost.