As a student of political science I was in the wrong end of politics, I would say a victim of the office politics. I wore my heart in my sleeve, I slogged it out and yet I was always facing challenges. I was born in the lower end of a middle class home that entangled in a religious system and married to a lady who preferred her husband to have a life style of a village school teacher. To top this all at work I did not have a godfather, the boss I had to report to on business was not charitable to me for I had abused (actually abused) for playing truant (I was hot blooded). My administrative boss was an alcoholic and a womanizer who was having it out with my secretary. In spite of all this I did well because I loved my job and my profession and I was concerned about those who worked with me. Result in exactly 1 year, based on my performance, I was ordained to be the front runner for the Directorship which was nearly 5 layers above me. The work culture I had created was buzzing with ideas that perhaps was the reason. But then when you are chosen, you need to be able to navigate the corporate jungle, that’s where I goofed. I realized work alone will not suffice its work + politics. That realization dawned in late.
With a post graduation in political science and Management education why did I not fuse them together and be wiser? My moral disposition was the reason.
While in college I was influenced by Thomas Hobbes and Nicollo Machiavelli, but it’s the later who captured my imagination. Hobbes was a champion of absolutism for the sovereign but he also developed some of the fundamentals of European liberal thought: the right of the individual; the natural equality of all men; the artificial character of the political order (which led to the later distinction between civil society and the state); the view that all legitimate political power must be “representative” and based on the consent of the people; and a liberal interpretation of law which leaves people free to do whatever the law does not explicitly forbid.
Machiavelli on the other hand is prototype of a modern empirical scientist, building generalizations from experience and historical facts, and emphasizing the uselessness of theorizing with the imagination. Scholars often note that Machiavelli glorifies instrumentality in state building – an approach embodied by the saying that “the ends justify the means.” Violence may be necessary for the successful transfer of power and introduction of new legal institutions. Force may be used to eliminate political rivals, to coerce resistant populations, and to purge previous rulers who will inevitably attempt to regain their power.
Take away the selfishness attached to Machiavelli you will have a real interesting and effective tool kit for governance and growth. For reasons of state (raison d’état) a leader can do anything. When I say state I would mean a collective of people, not just an institution/organization. History will bear me out when I say that leaders with wrong intent following the selfish and power laden path bring people and society to much suffering and pain
Navigating office politics is a training session I used to specialize in. Not many liked the topic, most found it obnoxious and wanted to wish it away sweeping it under the carpet. But I believe each of us are a socio-political being. Being political for good reasons is important if not you become the victim of power games played by the average minds.
Tilted Plus 