Is there any way this might be prevented?
Here are some thaughts on this sensitive matter:
Problem…well: just as in my Summary…otherwise…
Otherwise, it does seem a little like an aporia, or contradictio-in-adiecto…
Since – what else is a “decision-making” but a form of “politics” (understood widely…maybe even wildly: as a form of socio-psychological process whose results derive themselves from such acts like introspection, interpersonal…or more public forms of evaluation and communication). Politics (let me remind you) is in English language a word which represents and describes quite a specific human activity…unlike “policy”, which, on the other hand, stands for a ”principle or a rule to guide decisions…“
Here I’d like to add: In many other languages (like my mother tongue – Serbian) this is not the case: it is always “Politika, Politik &c.” with both of aforementioned meanings.
In hope of your forgiveness for this “semantic/linguistic lecture” (that I’ve found appropriate), I’d like to proceed, or rather go back to my thesis: It is not politics “sui ipse” that should be treated like “a stowaway” on the “boat of business, economics…whatever…productive”; it is not “politics” but the human nature itself…when it brings to us it’s aberrations, sins, blind moments and weak spots!
Being myself a manager, and a one who was born in a country that had been considered (and quite defensibly, I’d say) a totalitarian dictatorship – I’ve often heard of the ghost fight between “economy and politics”…and always from those who had been wanting “it all”;
Being a citizen of a country-in-transition…I am still often hearing those same sentences;
Being a politicologist, I could not resist an urge to participate in this discussion.
One deductive look on our history might help solving the problem…and help it a lot: Every single bearer of political function or position has, so far, been very keen on emphasizing, more or less frequently, that he had once been chosen…either by God, or by votes of the people – directly or indirectly. On the other hand, it still seems that those votes…well…do not suffice as “politicians’ backup”…and this breed of our fellowmen definitely prefer the religious, mystical derivation…behaving or pretending, sooner or later, as it, undoubtedly, existed.
…therefore, in dealing with such contemporary “high priests” and “princes” we couldn’t possibly rely on their “bon gout” when it comes to the abstinence of power and ingirence within the process of economic decision-making.
The answer, I like to believe, lies in, medically speaking – “vaccine”. The one that resembles the method of long-term ingestion of a snake venom – to preserve oneself of lethal outcome in case of the actual snake bite.
Micro-politics against macro-politics, that is.
…and I’m not only thinking about democratic process during decision-formatting…
…My idea goes much more towards the enhancement of communication…susceptible to psychological analysis – both of internal and external kind. Such analyses (as my researches have shown) shall often lead to the conclusion that the method of resolving our problem highly resembles (or I have gotten that impression) the one G.I. Caesar had used long ago:
Like in popular social-games (and this really has to be looked-at as one) you, as a manager of a company…should by no means let yourself to play the role of Roman Senat, being surrounded by plaebeans from one – and by the Dictator (in this model such a title unfortunately unifies all modern governmental forms) from the other side. At least, one of your “hands” has to be free in every moment…despite populism, despite side-blows, despite pressures of any kind.
I’ve heard many saying that ideology is dead ",,,as...dead"...and I couldn't agree more.
Or...has there been any ideology ever? Well...I think:Yes!
So, what has this to do with this section of my hack?
A lot! I’d say....
Once upon a time masses (maybe even some leaders) used to believe in big words...big goals...master-plans....
Now - our beliefs are long gone and, as mentioned before, politicians are observed by their voters like a bunch of high-priests who (by the power invested in them), in some wealthy countries, promise - and are supposed-to – to preserve the status-quo...and in some less fortunate ones,,,they are looked-upon as mini-messiahs…with magic powers and appropriate tools to turn the state of poverty into the promised land…and politicians themselves seldom try to disillusion poor fellows…
…and…you might ask yourselves – is the practical impact of such a philosophical tirade?
…what is the point?
The point, as I see it, lies in avoiding the rule of government-delegated semi-experts and semi-managers… avoiding, at the same time, to establish the bureaucratic state… and furthermore – avoiding the threat of being excommunicated from large and comfortable government projects and programs.
If a manager succeeds in all those “navigating tricks” he could, as a result, be “left alone in peace”…leading a highly independent business…and, at the same time, his team shan’t lack motivation; quality motivation of well informed and aware people (oh! What an “we-feeling”!)…And a micro-environment (politically and socially speaking) should, however, gain an economic subject which (with it’s positive intellectual gravitation) might always compete in a local political race and above-all, raise political standards by it’s guerrilla-methods.
I shall simply stay adamantine with my very descriptive and merely “reminding-you-of-what-you-already-know” strategies.
Also, I will not quit with my idea of “fighting politicians by politics”.
So, I can see “the first steps” chapter in the following form:
- Build your own political authority…and this in a manner that every authority should be built-on: trust, sincerity, visible and feasible goals. Build your authority between your colleagues, your workers, your customers, hence – become a “man with political integrity” – regardless of local political system, regardless of global tendencies;
- Define your own political model…both on micro- and macro-level
Try to plant your ideas and test them along the road…during your communication-process, which is inevitable within the very job you practice each day. Once given enough feedback – you might revise both your own capacities and strength of your ideas…and take the second (third, fourth…) chance to upgrade and starken them.
Politics itself – being “the art of possible” will not harm or corrupt you in any way. On the contrary – it shall sharpen your mind and help make decisions;
- Move even one step further with cementing your intangibility: spread all your
ideas – those of your expertise, as well as those of better society.
Andrew Carnegie did something of the kind in his younger days…and it had never bothered him… Invent and start an NGO of your own…Do what you must…But, by all means distinguish yourself from non-statesmen that represent the true enemy in this “article”…
- Dusan Kovacevic, without doubt – the number one dramatist in Serbia – in one of his prime-oeuvres “The hilarious tragedy”, widely (and using lots of bitter-humor, as well) explains his views on how greedy masses sell themselves for petty cash, ergo feeding “innocent politicians’”ego, ergo producing full-range political impact. So, it’s no problem, whatsoever, to see that corruption is an interactive process. …So, it’s no wonder that “one who makes many compromises – gets compromised at the end.
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