The human dimension in politics

The pandemic has reminded us that health, politics, ethics, social justice, and human rights are deeply interconnected. It has also sent us a strong message that health is a public good, not just an individual matter or an economic issue. Politicians are made to realise that human life is at the centre of all concerns. The human dimension of politics must be seen as central.

Against those who divide us

The true leader brings people together. His/her main strength is the ability to create large coalitions by emphasising what is shared by many and proposing a way forward that appears as rewarding to most of the people. The politics of division and confrontation are the weapons of those who lack ideas and ideals. Politicians of that calibre end up by bringing disaster upon themselves and on those who believe in them. Therefore, it is our duty to combat them and make sure that they are out at the end of the next electoral day.

My friend gets special treatment

It is a serious mistake to follow double standards when you are leading a country. You cannot be exacting for some and permissive for others, particularly when it is a political friend that is overstepping the red line. That fundamentally undermines the leader’s credibility. Once lost, it is not easy to recuperate.

The realism and the utopia

Today I came back to a statement that I used to make when discussing with overly ambitious but unrealistic people. I would tell them that during my walks in the bush, and I did many in distinct types of bushes, I could see that the baboons would go for the lizards. At a different level, the wild dogs would do the run, with extreme efficiency, to catch the impala. And the lions would focus on the kudus, a much bigger animal than the poor lizard or the gracious impala. No baboon would make any effort to do the impossible and try to catch a kudu.

The right question

I have always admired those who are good at asking the pertinent questions. For me, that proves they are intelligent people. A well-formulated question is powerful. The other side can feel deeply challenged. And that's what we want politicians to feel. 

A very destructive man

One of the deepest-rooted attributes of an authoritarian politician is to react with great violence when criticised. They get wild if they are attacked. And if they can, they will seek all means of revenge. The focus is on destroying the enemy, not just on beating him or her. And everyone who is not servile to the boss is a foe.

We have seen that today in Washington.

Impeached

I am impressed by the presentations made so far by the House Impeachment Managers. They are building a serious case against President Trump. It is smart to repeatedly quote statements proffered in past occasions by those that today are dead against the impeachment.  

We all know that the case will be dismissed in the end, because the President’s party will decide along partisan lines. Their decision is to protect the President, independently of the merits of the case. And the President, then, will try to ride on that acquittal and move to a higher gear in terms of his re-election campaign. OK, it’s expected, it is part of the political game. He will take a discernible advantage of his malpractices. But the Democrats had no other option but to impeach. Today, more than ever, it is important to act based on principles.

Politics is about people and their feelings

The political fights are about emotions and instincts. The ideas must have a strong and clear human dimension to get enough support.

Power politics

Politics is obviously about controlling the power of governance. And such power must be played with the aim of managing conflicts, finding a balance between different and contradictory interests, as well as to create alliances and to open opportunities for as many people as possible. Then, we can say we have a progressive approach to politics.

The first day of 2020

This blog will continue in 2020, I hope. The key inspiration will remain to combat delusion and irrationality in politics. This objective takes into consideration that some of our political leaders seem to have lost contact with reality and the aspirations of common people.

Poor democracy

For many opportunistic politicians, the truth is a MIA – missing in action. Values have been kicked aside, in today’s partisan disputes. The politicians do not want to recognise the facts if those facts play against them and their political friends. It is more than just lying. It is deep bad faith, and no shame. It is to negate the evidence and logical dimension of the facts. In the end, that creates deep divisions, extreme rancour and an immense discredit of everything political. With time, it might lead to violent action as well.

It is very worrying as a new trend.

We have now daily examples of that, in our democracies. And as I wrote yesterday, our democratic systems are therefore continuously undermined. And our societies are becoming more extreme instead of more harmonious.

Macron's days of destiny

President Emmanuel Macron is trying to reform the anachronic French pension system. It is a major task in a country that is used to keep the acquired advantages, even when there is no logical reason for that. Moreover, even when they are no longer sustainable and have lost the foundations that could justify them. Such reform requires strong political will and an extremely smart approach. The President seems to have the political will, at least in some degree. But I am not sure he has the ability that is necessary to navigate such a stormy matter. Determination without a good dose of ingenuity leads to defeat.

To talk to a political bully?

In politics, we tend to forget that to be principled is different from being dogmatic.

A principled leader knows the goal posts, keeps in mind the values that must be respected, and, because of that, he or she can engage in a negotiation. The dogmatic one is just a bully, a political ruffian. He can only operate from what he sees as a position of force, even when such position is no more than an illusion. The bully lives in a fantasy world and sees himself at the centre of it. To engage in a dialogue with such a person is a lost of time, unless it is just a tactical move to regain the initiative.

Deception and intent

We should always remember the wise aphorism about politics. It goes like this: in politics everything could mean the opposite of what it is said or done. Our job is to try to find out what is behind the words or the deeds. Like asking, what is the point? Sharp minds do that.

Equality and freedom

In our societies, a lot of emphasis is place on equality. Even without making the difference between equality of opportunities or equality of results and outcomes. It’s just a repeated reference to equality, as a banner. And politics is then compelled to give a lot of attention to the matter, very often without a proper debate of the issue, which is more complex than it looks.

I have also worked in places where people are just struggling daily. They might think about equality as well. But their main demand is about freedom and basic rights. In other places, it is also about space to act without too many administrative constraints and much less bureaucratic interference.

We seem to have lost sight of the aspirations of such peoples. It is not a balanced view of the world.

Leadership and renewal

I spend a bit of time talking about leadership in the context of strategy formulation and implementation. The quality of the leader determines the excellence of the strategy. Very often we forget that fact. We look at the strategy but do not consider the merit of those in charge of designing it, of talking about it to do the convincing part, and of its operationalisation.

We have also to keep in mind that leaders emerge, and grow but that one day, they must go and leave room for the next generation. The rotation issue is an important one. It keeps the creativity on. Therefore, true leaders must prepare the new crop that will end up by taking over. This is an evidence that is often ignored. By the leaders themselves, first.

No let up

The glass might be empty, but it is not broken. 

Stay on message

There is no problem if one keeps repeating the same message because most people are not listening, even when they pretend to. The only advice is to repeat it clearly and gracefully.

Assange and the law

Julian Assange has a long legal battle in front of him. The decision about his fate must be based on the law. But his case has so many political ramifications that it will be difficult to separate the legal aspects from their political context. It will be a very controversial process.

#Brexit, what a crazy idea

Brexit. Leave. Leave might be a question of opinion. Fine! But it has become obvious it is a sinister, and above all, stupid opinion.