What is
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Who has Absolute Power?
The people wielding power can range from a single person to a group of individuals. Some prime examples are governments and celebrities. Governments can control laws, impose oppressive rules and make life better or worse for their people. Celebrities on the other hand can widely influence opinions and personal morals. If an influential figurehead tells the masses to do or believe something or someone, chances are a large majority will. For instance, the National Library of Medicine cites that “both parents and children are more likely to choose food products endorsed by celebrities”, showcasing the true power those in fame hold over our everyday lives and decisions. Just as a government can give or take away human rights, celebrities can influence their supporters with a simple tweet, exercising their power by a variety of means.
How they get itPower can be achieved through many means. Some acquire it through force, others through wit, the "word of God", some are even selected by the people for the people. Whether they gain good publicity or bad publicity is unnecessary to note, as long as people are talking about them, they will increase their platform- eventually finding an audience that they appeal to. This audience of theirs is important, as their ‘fans’ are the people who put them in a position of power. Everyone can find people who agree with their views, no matter what they believe or say. It is with this that corruption can start, at the very roots of power. National Geographic notes that the ancient Greeks are credited with inventing democracy. Democracy comes from the Greek words “Demos Kratos”, which translates to “people power”.
“The United States government is based on an idea of a democracy where people have power—but citizens do not actually vote on every issue. Rather, they elect people (representatives) who vote on matters for them. This is different than the direct democracy of Athens” (N.G.) It is with this statement by National Geographic that we learn that, while we have built our government on democracy, people are still not in complete control of what goes on in their lives. We put people in power to speak for us, but is there any guarantee of having each and every voice heard? We would like to think so, but the sad truth of the matter is that many of us are not heard as individuals, and it is our combined voices that we must settle for. As each of us would like to believe we live in a world where we are important, we follow the people who make us feel like we are. This is how people are placed in power, they appeal to the masses. People give power, but ironically have none of it, as they have given it all away. |
How they maintain it“Psychologists and sociologists who study terrorism say dictators are able to spread fear among their people and place themselves as their only salvation. Manufacturing an external threat, like Jews to Hitler's Germany…help keep the society off balance and collectively paranoid as well” (Niiler).
Power can be acquired and maintained in many ways. In the classic view of dictatorship in political science, dictators exercise power through fear and control (Friedrich and Brzezin, 1965). Ruling by commands and prohibition, the autocrats utilize the police to monitor compliance or sanctions; in other words, they stay in power through repression. However, this might lead to the Dictator's Dilemma (Wintrobe 1998): as the citizens are displeased with the policies, the fear of betrayal starts to rise in the dictator’s mind. Thus, the dictators sought another way to solve the problem: redistributing their supporters. Obviously, they can implement the policies that their people want, but to guarantee the support, the easiest way is bribery. They overpay those in high positions, such as the military, by distributing rents or subsidizing the wages (Wintrobe 2005) While civil liberties are taken away, they still side with the other aspect of the regime . The last method is propaganda. Many reports have suggested that the tyrants are popular with their people, and the reason behind that is explained, “the possibility that some event will trigger a critical mass of opposition from the general population cannot be neglected, and wise dictators try to obtain their loyalty” (Windtrobe, 2005). As dictators gain more power, they must work harder to maintain it, implementing these methods to keep their power, stopping at nearly nothing to do so. |
Who it impactsAs this abuse of power and corruption leads those empowered down the dark tunnel of ego and to a reign of terror, each and every person around them is impacted.
Not only are the followers (and even opposers) threatened, the leaders tend to “develop narcissism or twisted ego as power affects cognitive processes in ways that facilitate self-expression, action, and goal pursuit” (Guinote 2017). “With the feelings of entitlement, the goal orientation of power holders has downstream consequences for performance, corruption, and social behavior, often leading to the use of stereotypes, prejudice, and objectification of subordinates” (Guinote 2017). Through this change in behavior, their followers and citizens directly reap the consequences, becoming victims of stereotypes, prejudice, and objectification. Just as both prisoners and guards struggled following the events of Phillip Zimbardo’s prison experiment, so do those in real-world scenarios and government. Throughout history and even today, leaders utilize their absolute power to take away rights from the people and harm whomever they wished. Just as they become victims to their own egos and greed, their followers and opposers become their victims, losing their rights and even in some cases, their lives. |
Why this is an Issue?
In a letter to an Anglican bishop in 1887, Lord Acton writes, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men” (Acton). Unfortunately, his prediction is justifiably proven throughout history. From the ancient emperors to the dictators that led nations into wars, the idea of absolutism has never ceased. As one of the world powers, the United States is inevitably on the same page. Despite the effort to the shared control of our ancestors, several questions of who the true ruler of our government system is have been raised. As governments and people continue to gain more power, they also continue down the path of corruption, wanting more power and stopping at nothing to get it.
With the corruption that comes hand in hand with absolute power, people begin to find not only their rights threatened but their lives.
As seen in Phillip Zimbardo’s 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, the moment the selected civilians were assigned a role of power, their usual kind demeanors turned villainous. Due to their position of absolute power, these seemingly innocent participants were instantly corrupted, misusing their power to torture their prisoners physically, mentally, and even sexually.
As Zimbardo’s study highlights the danger behind absolute power, herein lies the issue. Leaders today are still capable of holding absolute power over their people. If this behavior does not cease, the lives and freedoms of future generations will be threatened.
With the corruption that comes hand in hand with absolute power, people begin to find not only their rights threatened but their lives.
As seen in Phillip Zimbardo’s 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, the moment the selected civilians were assigned a role of power, their usual kind demeanors turned villainous. Due to their position of absolute power, these seemingly innocent participants were instantly corrupted, misusing their power to torture their prisoners physically, mentally, and even sexually.
As Zimbardo’s study highlights the danger behind absolute power, herein lies the issue. Leaders today are still capable of holding absolute power over their people. If this behavior does not cease, the lives and freedoms of future generations will be threatened.