Nobody likes politics. Or, at least, nobody likes to admit that they like politics. Even politicians are constantly telling us that we have to put politics aside so you know that politics must be bad.
It’s easy to be against politics. It’s almost as popular as being against child pornography! So when you decry the effects of politics on the country or on your organization, you’re really not taking a brave stance or saying something interesting or informative. And, frankly, you’re not being helpful.
Politics just are. They were around before you learned how to whine about them and they’ll be around after you’re dead and buried. So you can do the fashionable thing and portray yourself as somehow above the political fray, or you can do something useful (and much more interesting) and try to understand why people continue to engage in politics in spite of the fact that they appear to be universally reviled.
Let’s start by just being honest. It’s just the two of us here. You don’t really dislike politics do you? C’mon. You can say it. There. I knew it! Now don’t worry, it’ll be our little secret.
What exactly is this thing called “politics?” It’s not just the profession of those who try to ascend to important public positions. Politics is really the processes, methods and tools by which social entities make decisions. [See here for a useful definition.]
Of course you don’t hate politics. And all those other people out there who turn their noses up at politics don’t hate it either. We all pretend to hate politics for two related reasons. First, we feel a natural disdain for politics because there is something in human nature that makes us ashamed to be seen as pursuing our own interests. If you’re cynical, you might think of this as a psychobiological adaption designed to help us get what we want by hiding our true intentions (even from ourselves). If you’re not cynical you might think of this as human nobility or altruism. Either way, we are programmed by nature to suspect and revile those who wantonly pursue their own interests. Second, the most common images of political activity that we see in the media are truly disgusting – the activities of a bunch of obscene narcissists who use politics to turn all other people into instruments of their own power and pleasure.
But let’s remember that like all tools, politics is indifferent towards the end for which people use it. When we engage in politics, we are acting on a system (and within that system) of human psychology, social factors and culture to achieve a purpose. That purpose can be base or it can be noble. Politics are neither.
So what does this mean for you?
First, stop treating politics as a dirty word. It isn’t. Politics is a necessary means for getting things done. Pretending otherwise only makes you look silly to thoughtful people and ineffective to everyone else.
Second, choose your purpose carefully. Your nobility depends on this choice. What do you hope to achieve? Do you want to satisfy yourself or do you want to bring joy and wisdom to others? Do you view people as instruments of your pleasure or do you consider your own life as an opportunity to serve others? If you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve in life (or even just right now) then politics are as irrelevant to you as a hammer is to a person with no aspirations for banging in nails.
And then, be political. Not in the base sense. Be political in the sense of truly understanding the social (and psychosocial) system in which you operate. Who must you influence in order to achieve your aims? What do these people care about? Why? Which of them wield influence over the others? How can you inspire them? How can you learn from them and adapt?
These are serious questions for thoughtful people. Whining about politics is a waste of time.
