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Victimisation in politics

Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
By Dickson C. Igwe

One politician's assertions on victimisation reveal a pervasive culture.

Now, when it comes to victimisation in politics anywhere, all are guilty. There is no innocent political party.

Talk to anyone who is impacted by politics, from the businessman to the public officer, and there is clear acceptance that the matter of victimisation is as pervasive, as it is real.

One great example is the refusal by UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson to offer a customary peerage to The Right Honourable John Bercow, Ex-Speaker of the UK Parliament, for his stance on the Brexit Debate.

However, political victimisation takes various forms, from the insidious to the outright overt.

The more damaging types of victimisation are subtle and insidious. This type of victimisation is meant to emotionally suppress the victim. It takes the form of marginalisation.  

Here a minister will form a clique within a ministry, and that clique becomes a type of mini cabinet.

There is disrespect for protocol. A junior officer will be offered access to pertinent information, over his or her seniors. 

This causes embarrassment and discouragement. The junior will be invited to ''parties'' over senior officers, who due to protocol, should be invited first.

Then there are the rude gestures. A refusal to acknowledge staff through appropriate greetings but acknowledging a ''chumminess'' over a more favoured officer.

Soon a culture of favouritism develops and the result is low morale generally, and even lower productivity. 

On the other hand, the wise politician swiftly forgives his enemies after election victory.

Magnanimity is a great tool in politics.

Forgiving an enemy actually turns that enemy into a much less threatening individual. And in certain circumstances that '' forgiven enemy'' can become the politician's greatest friend and asset due to the fact that he or she is shocked at being forgiven for their prior partisanship.

Victimisation is never a great idea. Why? Because as many understand today, one never knows what is around the corner. 

One politician who believed he was invincible and was a master in the politics of victimisation, got the shock of his life, and the boot out of office, at a general election.

Who did the kicking? Most likely scores of people he victimised, and who took out their revenge at the ballot box. The victimised are citizens and voters. That is easily forgotten when power gets to the head.

As the Great and Wise H. Lavity Stoutt stated once: ''one enemy is one too many.''

For Julius Caesar, it is far better to be kind and magnanimous than ''nasty'' and ''vindictive.''

His career will last longer.

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5 Responses to “Victimisation in politics ”

  • ... (25/01/2020, 10:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Am I reading right?
  • Edmond says (26/01/2020, 11:02) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Don't you understand anything - the speaker is not supposed to have a stance on anything. The fact that you accept that he had a stance (and no doubt it accorded with your own pro EU stance) is the very reason that he did not get a peerage. Add the that, the fact that he bullied his staff - and you are left with the inescapable conclusion that he should not get a peerage. Would you please check your student union politics before you start writing!
  • @Edmond Says (26/01/2020, 12:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bercow will get his peerage in due time - all you offer is Brexit Koolafde
  • Where is the Brexit party in thrbBVinon 31 January 2020. (26/01/2020, 17:27) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Can’t wait for the UK to prosper after it leaves that corrupt dysfunctional Organisation to rot in its own unelected and unaccountable swamp. Long live democracy!
  • Diaspora (27/01/2020, 08:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Political victimization is but one form of many forms of victimization. Victimization is a universal condition; there is even a course of study for it—–Victimology. In the universe of politics, political victimization is common place. It happened yesterday, it will happen today and it will happen in future and beyond to eternity. As the saying goes, to the victor goes the spoils.

    The reality is that every government coming to power will reward their supporters with positions, contracts, access…..etc. Some will even employ nepotism, cronyism…….etc. Further, some government positions are inherently political, ie, incoming government get to appoint personnel who supports them. It seems to reason that it (government) will fill these positions with people that they are comfortable with, supporters…..etc. Moreover, in opposition, the Opposition invariably accuses the incumbent government of victimization, cronyism, nepotism, corruption …….etc and other nefarious things but in power, it does the same thing. Hypocrisy! This hypocrisy is highly evident in the impeachment trial of US President Donald John Trump, eg, changing positions of Senator Lindsey Graham, Alan Dershowitz..etc.

    It is a universal condition that every government hates being criticized even when it is clear that it did something wrong; they are thin-skin and all knowing. Consequently, some governments are bold and move quickly to punish anyone and his/her family for criticizing it. Others move more slowly and methodical behaving like snakes in the grass to get even but get even they will. People must employ emotional intelligence to survive and even that may not be enough. This whole charade may not be fair but it is real. By the way, colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism……etc are forms of victimization. The greatest victimization event was Slavery; the dehumanizing, exploiting.......etc action was despicable. Add Brexitism and Megexitism to mix of victimization.


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