Niccolo Machiavelli, a 15th century Italian political philosopher, is most famous for his political treatise, The Prince, in which he advices how a ruler can remain in power. It is believed that Dr. Denzil Douglas has read The Prince and has been greatly influenced by its contents.
Machiavelli believed that a ruler should achieve success by any means necessary even at the expense of traditional moral values. Such a ruler would have no qualms of publically abusing church leaders and expressing homosexual feelings towards President Barak Obama.
Machiavelli also believed that a ruler (Prince) may be excused for committing acts of violence and deception against his opposition. He believed that brutality should be used to remove threats and opposition. Murder was therefore encouraged when it was necessary to achieve certain political ambitions. Some very striking parallels can be drawn when one considers certain events that have taken place in our country. The era of the early 1990s still haunt our lives and will remain a dark moment in our collective memories.
The question “Is it better for a ruler to be loved or feared?” was explored by Machiavelli. He believed that it was better to be loved and feared but the two cannot exist together. Therefore, he concluded that it was better to be feared and not loved because as a leader you need complete obedience from the people in order to run the State.
Machiavelli therefore embraced fear as a tool for a ruler to remain in power. He states, “The prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal.” Every civic organization, every institution must become subjected to the ruler. If they step out of line they are harassed, intimidated, victimized, or removed. Even the church is not spared. Its membership may be accused of committing acts of high treason if they condemn wrong.
In the recent past we have seen the calculated intimidation of media houses that dare to criticize actions of the government. We have seen the forced deportations of persons who openly condemn wrongdoing. We have witnessed army and police personnel being strategically deployed in order to ensure that the grand scheme of their boss is carried out.
The personality type that Machiavelli has really described is that of a despotic ruler or dictator, i.e., an absolute ruler who uses force or fear to remain in power. History is replete with many examples of dictators: Adolph Hitler, Augusto Pinochet, Benito Mussolini, Idi Amin, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong II, Robert Mugabe, etc. Such rulers gain power by descent, military coup or democratic elections but once power is had, they become ruthless in office.
Political psychology suggests that dictators suffer from at least three common syndromes: denial of reality, fear, and narcissism. They convince themselves that they are above the law and so, for instance, they would disrespect court orders (injunctions); they rule by fear but are also ruled by their own fears. They become isolated and friendless and fear betrayal by those closest to them; they believe nothing can happen without them (ten-men-in-one syndrome), surround themselves with yes-men and are distrustful of everyone.
Under dictatorships, the government does not allow the people to determine their own political destiny by democratic elections. The government controls the election machinery and so elections are no longer free and fair. Selected sycophants and cronies carry out the dictator’s bidding just to get a few crumbs that fall from the table.
Meanwhile, the country suffers and slowly degenerates into abject poverty, hopelessness and despair. The dictator does not see this state of affairs. He continues to live in his own world and believe his own propaganda that ‘e a wuk’ (it is working). However, a time will come when the masses rise up and challenge the status quo, by any means that is necessary and just!
