Seemingly, people have negative perceptions of politics in our society. Perceiving it as a means to achieve self-centered interests in a way in which one has no regard for others, people generally in their comments mention politics in negative terms. Oftentimes, anyone smart in wheeling and dealing is usually termed as “too political” and people become cautious in all their dealings with that “too political” character.
Generally, people at the grass root level consider politics at the societal and state level not their cup of tea. They think that it’s the sphere of people, especially of those who are not from their ranks. Usually, among the middle class, it’s not encouraged to participate in politics. From family structures to academic structures, the whole infrastructure is repulsive to any kind of participation in politics, perhaps because of its negative connotations. There is a general disconnect between people at the grass root level and people who are active in politics. The question is whether politics is such a bad monster that we all should keep ourselves away from or if there is something wrong with our perception of it. In other words, is being political a luxury or a necessity?
Let’s explore politics in the context of power. If we put it in simple words and especially in an academic context, politics is the “study of power”. Question is, what is power? Recently, while participating in the 2nd International Conference organized by Punjab University, Lahore, last month, one presenter explained the concept of power in a very interesting way, and here I would like to share that. Power is the ability to influence someone in three domains that comprise action, cognition, and emotion. In simple words, power is the ability to make someone do what you want him or her to do. (Action). Power is the ability to make someone think the way you want him/her to think. Power is the ability to make someone feel the way you want him or her to feel. Let’s make it simpler.
We need to encourage people around to share their say in the political system. It can be in any shape. It can be voting. It can be writing. It can be speaking. Academic institutions should proactively engage students with political insights and dissemination of curricula critically so that they are well-equipped to deal with the issues of the modern world head-on
Power defined in the “Action” domain is known usually as Hard Power. How can it be exemplified? A case in point is the state. The state through its driving organ, that is government, exerts hard power through the support of its various organs like police, bureaucracy, and other punitive measures enshrined in the constitution in case someone violates a law. So, in this way, the state moulds citizens to act in a particular way through a list of Dos and Don’ts coupled with rewards and punishments. Here, it’s important to mention that the state cannot effectively exert hard power until the government is legitimate.
Power defined in the “Cognition” and “Perception” domains is known as Soft Power. How can it be exemplified? Civil society in any country holds soft power. Civil society constitutes media, universities and research think tanks, and so on. It’s the civil society that moulds society’s perception and cognition. Thus, in this context, universities are hives of soft power as they shape the perceptions and cognitions of students’ lot through the dissemination of critical curricula. Here, it’s worth mentioning that soft power, if effectively utilized, can have more real-time impact than its counterpart which is hard power.
To emphasize the above point, here is a small example. Colonizers came into our region with a command over hard power initially; however, they ruled over the Subcontinent for centuries and are still ruling over our minds through their effective strategy for exerting soft power. Colonizers have left our region but we are under the shackles of their soft power.
Our minds are hijacked. We still prefer to write and speak in their language, which is English. We have made speaking English a sign of intellect, which is tragic. We are crushing our students’ minds and potential with a kind of structural violence when we ask them and expect them to express their understanding of the world in English which is not their native language. We still have no say in the knowledge domain. We are relying on western theoretical frameworks and are foolishly trying to understand our reality through their theoretical frameworks. Such is the force of soft power. We have got independence from colonizers, but, still, we are not independent mentally.
Anyhow, let’s bring it back to politics. I think that we need to reconsider our approach to politics. Politics is all around us. We are breathing politics at every moment. Whenever two humans interact, politics is there. When I say, politics is there, it’s because both humans try to influence each other either in the “Action” domain or in the “Cognition” or “Emotion” domain. Every aspect of human interaction or expression is politics. Our silence is politics. Our laughter is politics. Our anger is politics. Our sadness is politics. Our frustration is politics. It’s because, in all these states, humans influence each other either in the action domain or in the emotional or perception domain. Also, in all these states what is being depicted is that humans either support the status quo or try to mould the status quo around them, and thus they become political.
After learning the various insights of politics in the context of power and knowing the fact that politics is within us and around us, it’s important that we proactively participate in politics. We have a lot of structural issues in the shape of illiteracy, poverty, hunger, patriarchy, etc. All these issues can only be resolved if we redefine our approach to politics. When I say, we need to redefine our approach to politics, I mean that we need to encourage people’s active participation in politics. Proactively, we need to address misconceptions of people and institutions regarding their engagement in politics.
We need to encourage people around to share their say in the political system. It can be in any shape. It can be voting. It can be writing. It can be speaking. Academic institutions should proactively engage students with political insights and dissemination of curricula critically so that they are well-equipped to deal with the issues of the modern world head-on.
After all, being political is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
