The politics of hypocrisy

Common consensus appears to exist that men (and women) in all circumstances are naturally disposed to duplicity, dishonesty, hypocrisy and corruption; that those with greater prominence almost always reflect the vices and virtues of society in which they exist. Their pursuit and preservation of power in all spheres of life is characterised by the shameful embrace of iniquity and dishonesty as well as complete disregard of moral principles and ethics. Politicians appear to have carved for themselves a niche in the field of deceit which only themselves and second-hand car salesman are generally renowned for.

The chronic obsession with power is intrinsically linked to politics. The vast promises of crass materialism associated with occupation of positions of influence in the echelons of power continue to compromise respectable virtues of men. As Lord Acton succinctly put it: “All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Then surely to uphold politicians as paragons of morality would be a great disservice to societal expectations. Niccolo Machiavelli believed that there is no viable alternative to hypocrisy in politics. We look around us and hypocrites abound.

How does society continuously reaffirm general impropriety and dishonesty of politicians in the midst of betrayal of the trust we place upon them? Ruth Weissbourd Grant in her book Hypocrisy and Integrity: Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the Ethics of Politics attempts to answer this very question. She states that “politics are characterised by relationships of mutual need among parties with conflicting interests. To enlist the support of the other party requires flatter, manipulation, pretence of concern for his needs … to further selfish ends”.

The emergence of political populism in South Africa is a direct response to the structural faults in our economy, which by accident of history is a racial problem. We have two economies as former president Mbeki observed: one that is white and rich while the other is black and poor. Out of such racial imbalances arise despicable populists who pretend to represent the interests of the poor majority with the sole objective of preserving political power while there is general lack of improvement in the conditions of the poor.

The existence of inequalities in society serves as a precursor to the ills that are seemingly natural in our body politic. A prosperous society means a well-informed society that is conscious of the urgency of addressing the socio-economic problems that may threaten its continued sustainability into the future. For society to transition towards such normality requires that illiteracy, which entrenches the scourge of poverty, be eradicated. For political populists the continued existence of such inequality serves their narrow interests.

The poor masses who now enjoy political emancipation continue to hold themselves hostage to the sentiment of the liberation struggle despite their abject socio-economic circumstances and the continued betrayal of their trust. The fulfilment of the promises of economic freedom remain yet far in the distant horizon. The dreams of these poor members of society are deferred with regularity by swindlers who shamelessly play on their desperation and hope. They accept mediocrity and cheat themselves of a better life with the hope that deceitful men in authority would bring them visible and meaningful change.

If indeed society is of one mind with Machiavelli that there is no viable alternative to hypocrisy in politics; why then do we act shocked at the conspicuous display of hypocritical behaviour by politicians? It would be an act of self-deceit if there existed within ourselves some expectation that politicians would conform to higher standards of morality in direct conflict to their own character. We face a political paradox wherein society appears to accept the nature of politics as defined yet simultaneously expect politicians to be of amiable and honourable constitution.

Despite these contradictions it remains reasonable that society hold those in power accountable. The general and reasonable expectation of the fulfilment of promises made by politicians is premised on the trust that society place upon the shoulders of those who pretend to be servants of the people. The president of the republic is not beyond reproach not because society seeks the embodiment of a perfect human being, but because society seeks a model politician, a person of unquestionable integrity who can be trusted to do the right thing even at cost to himself, a selfless servant of the people and an exemplary leader against whom we can measure ourselves and aspire for greatness. This cannot be too much to ask.

Edmund Burke says “all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”. The question we must answer for ourselves relates to the general despondence of those with the ability to bring good to society and the capacity to change the nature of politics as we know them. Some believe that bad politicians are elected because good men choose not to vote. We have from time immemorial left politics to be the exclusive preserve of men of dubious character. With the progression of time and transformation of the political landscape emerged women of dubious disposition as well.

A moment may have arrived that those savouring the comforts and luxuries of private existence rise to the challenge of our time and help dislodge our people from economic quicksand. It is time that those with no historical baggage join hands and stand side-by-side and lead this nation to its greatness. We have much to lose if we sit idle and do nothing.

It’s been half a century since Africa’s liberation from colonialism yet she is still characterised by a vast ocean of rampant corruption, dreadful diseases, mindless civil wars and abject poverty while the heroes of the liberation struggle live on the island of obscene opulence. This we must change!