Force and Coercion
Power: Part III
I have talked about the abuse of power from the start of my writings. It is not my intention to focus on this topic any longer than I have to. I only do so because it lies at the heart of what is wrong with the world today. It is for this reason that I have taken time in these early writings covering them. Before I move on from the tedious dissection of power, we must look at one other form.
The last form of power I want to address is that of force and coercion. Force is a far narrower definition of power than those we have looked at before. It falls under the guise of control, but to control does not necessarily mean to use of force. Just as control is a form of influence. Influence is not necessarily control. As we descend this winding road of power, the sense of superiority in those pursuing it increases, and justification of the means used to attain their desired end follows suit. In many ways force is the last tool in the toolbox. When unable to get your way through influence or control, force is next in line. It reverts to the most base and brutish methods to attain one’s wants by use of violence, fear, imprisonment, intimidation, etc.
We have all had moments where we wished we could compel others to do as we wished. For those lacking ethical constraints, the obstacle in their way is the lack of authority to do so. The authority is that sanctioned by some decree, either established or revolutionary. We see this in the arrogance of our governments, the ineffectiveness of our established laws, the abusive by our police and law enforcement agencies, the corruption of our elected representatives, so on and so forth. This authority provides those who possess it with a sense of justification and righteousness in their proclamations and use of force.
But I for one question the validity of this authority and all actions by anyone who use force against others to get their way. By what right is this or any other authority justified in exercising their power over others? These are the questions we must be asking.
When someone believes they have authority, or if they see their stance as righteous and superior to other’s views, they provide themselves with a justification that can lead them down the path of accumulating power. They may try using many different means of persuading others to follow their line of thinking, which would fall under the examples I have talked about previously or the one I speak of now.
Children in the playground who can’t get along and who have yet to develop their communication skills revert to these types of actions. They, and others like them, flex their muscles, and use their size, strength, and force as a method of problem resolution. In their mind, they are correct. How foolish, immature, and wrong. Here we are, adults, holding the same beliefs and utilizing the same tactics. And even more foolishly, we continue to believe our justification in doing so.
It is built into us. We may argue our point and try negotiating to the extent of our abilities, but when we reach the end of that road, we start banging our chests and thumping our fists on the ground. It’s comical, and a true sign of how quickly our distant past can spring into the present. While we may feel our evolution has allowed us to ascend to god-like beings, establishing us as far superior to other animals, the vestige of our brute tendencies cling to us like glue.
The history of empires, countries, governments, businesses, prominent families, etc., all contain this repulsive element in them. They would never have become what they were, or are, if they hadn’t. We cannot escape it! It is there if you are willing to look and see it. Unfortunately, we have been taught to ignore these actions, or even worse, praise them in some cases. We have a difficult time differentiating when our side is on the wrong side of history (whatever that really means—because every side is the wrong side from the other side’s perspective), especially when they are the ones educating us. Therefore, we all tend to think that where we reside or who we identify with is the righteous side in a conflict. Digging deep, thinking critically, and asking probing questions is too often not done. The past has shown that those who do often find themselves targets of ridicule by their peers, imprisoned, exiled, or killed.
Violence, war, imprisonment, and physical, psychological, or emotional threats of all kinds constitute shapes which forceand coercion can take. Today is no different than yesterday in this regard. It has followed civilization and society through their evolution from the very beginning. Who knows if we are able to rid ourselves of this malady.
We are all too familiar with the above examples, but why do they occur? Or better yet, why have they continued to occur despite our evolution and improvements? There is obviously no single reason for all wars or conflicts or violence, but is there a common inspiration? I argue that there is.
The tenacious human spirit insatiably seeks to retain and accumulate power. The use of control is an effective way to maintain that power when influence is weakened. But as competing interests desire that power, control’s grip can become loosened by neglect, and its strength arthritic by resistance. It is at this time that the use of force must be utilized to maintain that power, if it hadn’t already been in use. For those looking to compete with existing power and have reached the limit of how efficacious their influence and control has become, it is force they turn to to snatch the power from those who hold it.
That desire to control, to seize power, is what leads to violence, wars, etc. I hate to sound so simplistic in my opinion of conflicts, reducing the events to their lowest common denominator. But doing so exposes what should be clear to almost everyone: power and the search for more power drives people to base impulses and actions. There is no enlightenment, no development, no evolution, no progress, no change in expectations. To argue that without these events we would not see the errors of our ways, that we would not be having this discussion right now, is to dismiss our capabilities and replace them with ignorance.
Force is not only applied in instances of war. It has been used daily in our everyday lives. There are those out there fighting to expand this power, to subject some to the will of others, to ostracize and criminalize those who do not believe or act as others do, to normalize principles as correct or right or moral by force.
There is no acceptance of others and their liberties while enjoying those same liberties to believe and act as we wish. Yes, some do. But it is not those who accept others for their differences that we must be concerned about. If it were that way, then we would have no conflicts, or very few and to a far smaller degree if we did. No, it is not those who respect others for being different that concerns us. It is those who cannot do so that disrupts and prevents a peace which could exist. Those who have no respect for the freedom of others to live as they wish and believe as they do are the ones we must worry about.
Our eyes cannot be shielded with a patriotic lens which only allows us to see the flaws, abuses, and search for power in others. We must allow all the light to pass through so we can be equally critical of our own imperfections.
We are intelligent. We are capable of more than we currently achieve. But we justify our actions and continue them so long as those justifications can withstand the opposition. Attempting to coat our flaws with a silver lining is to ignore the inaction of our realization. If we are aware of them, why do these things not change? Why do we find ourselves in the same situations over and over, only with different names, leading characters, varying plots, and new locations? It is because, behind it all, power is doing what it can to ensure its survival, regardless of who holds it.
Looking at the above examples, it is easy to say that the impacts and aftermath of them are far from desirable. These events end with one party rising above another. What are these acts but an exercise of power by the “strong” over those “weaker” than them? It’s hard to condemn what we have been taught, but we must if we are to improve. We cannot be shy or hesitate to hold the mirror up to our faces and admit our own flaws. Until we do, improvement will remain elusive and be but a fairytale.
D.