K. Cronick
Václav
Havel was a Czechoslovakian writer who also was the last president of Czechoslovakia
and the first president of the Czech Republic. He was an activist during the
years of Soviet control and went through numerous imprisonments for these
activities.
I would
like to re-apply some of the principles he developed in his book, The Power of
the Powerless, which he wrote to describe the political awakening of the citizens in the
former Soviet satellite. In this case I would like to reflect on the situation
of many of Donald Trump’s followers.
Havel
describes a system he calls “post-totalitarian” in which the physical and repressive
power of the Soviet system has softened in the second half of the 20th century. Ideology, in this case the last remains of communist doctrine, has
achieved enough cohesive power to maintain a submissive population. He says, “The
post-totalitarian system demands monolithism… the intrinsic goal of the
post-totalitarian system is not, as it might seem at first sight, pure and
simple preservation of power in the hands of the dominant group.” Havel talks
about an “Ideology – as an ‘alibi-bridge’ between the system and man – [that]
fills the abyss between the plans of the system and the plans of people’s
individual lives” (p. 12).
In this
system a “false life” is created which justifies its followers as members of
the group and guarantees them a position in it. The individual doesn’t have to
believe all the dogma, but he must act as if he does. Many do believe it, and if
necessary, and will defend it, even though the evidence that comes from their “real
life” does not support it. It is the price they pay for belonging.
Belonging
is very important. It is perhaps more important than authenticity, because the
group is the place where one’s loved-ones live. One’s home, one’s children’s
school, and many times one’s income depend on it. It seems strange to say this,
but underneath everything else, ideological submission can be an act of love.
It can only be challenged when the price of compliance becomes too high.
Thus, one
can ignore Trump’s incoherence and lies because one’s identity group requires
it. It is possible to equate one’s religion and one’s politics, first, because one
is accustomed to “being instructed” about dogma, and second, because otherwise
one faces ostracism.
The way to
open the doors so that these followers can see the light of “real” experience
and life, is not to keep pointing out the lies. It must be possible to see the
truth and still continue to love one’s family, friends and life. This can only be accomplished by support and
understanding of the dynamics of forced ideology.
Reference:
Vácklav Havel (1978/ 26/12/14). El Poder de los sin poder.
Traducción: Vicente Martín Pindado. www.lectulandia.com.
https://ww3.lectulandia.com/book/el-poder-de-los-sin-poder/
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