Restraining pathocracy
“All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible.” — Frank Herbert
There is an ontological connection between positions of authority and personality disorders. Polish psychiatrist Andrew Lobaczewski, who spent his formative years under the Nazi and Stalinist rule in the Soviet Union, conducted the most extensive study of the correlation between the two. He coined the term ‘pathocracy’ while investigating the relationship between psychopathy and political leadership. He conceived pathocracy as a government system “wherein a small pathological minority takes control over a society of normal people.” As he put it, vicious and disturbed persons were lured to political power and frequently made up the world’s governments. The question however is, how does this occur? Lobaczewski says the when a psychopathic person rises to power, a pathocracy has taken root in society.
Certain psychologically normal people are drawn to a leader’s unstable personality. They’re captivated by his charm; his rash actions are seen as boldness; his egotism as self-assurance; and his lack of inhibition as fearlessness. Soon after, additional individuals exhibiting psychopathic tendencies would arise and join the pathocracy, recognising the potential to amass power and influence for themselves. Simultaneously, ethical and honourable individuals increasingly quit the government by resigning or being brutally ousted. Eventually, the entire government is comprised of individuals with a pathological lack of compassion and empathy due to unavoidable tendencies.
When establishing and maintaining a pathocratic government, major influences are at stake. One needs to create a compelling “sense of ideology” by depicting the idea of future greatness and world rule with immense power. To do this, one must get rid of purported foes who stand in the way of progression through fierce propaganda. The purpose of propaganda is to incite hatred and establish a personality cult around the leader. Eventually, a ‘delusional babble’ is generated around the system of pathocracy with little regard for the well-being of everyone. Pathocrats’ agents tend to focus their efforts on securing and expanding their power.
While discussing pathocracy, Lobaczewski pointed out that this kind of ‘delusional bubble’ will not last forever. They have a saturation point; after passing it, the government will collapse because their cruelty, narcissism, and lack of dignified principles are no longer endorsed by society. Historically, Poland and Nazi Germany experienced the same fate that Lobaczewski observed and mentioned in his study. It does not matter that the pathocracies are destined to fall, but the damage they have done is unprecedented at a societal level. The ‘sense of ideology’ penetrating the consciousness of the people is damaging.
Pathocracy isn’t just a problem of one person. It is a mindset. It is a ‘construct’ led by like-minded extreme narcissistic people to gain and exercise power. The important question is how to restrain such a system. Lobaczewski argues that pathocracies only arise due to our failure to take enough ‘precautions’ against a pathological minority with a strong desire to wield authority. Before suggesting a mechanism, it is critical to note that pathocrats use institutions to increase their authority. When they get power, they do everything they can to undermine democratic institutions. They consider themselves above the law. There is a dire need to remove ‘systematic gaps’ in institutions that provide space for such pathological agents. However, institutions on their own are nothing; individuals are the ‘structural agents’ of an institution functioning in the system. It is the ‘law’ that restrains the behaviour of structural agents to not provide or create any spaces for pathological agents. It is a matter of how to initiate a discourse regarding ‘supremacy of law’ to thwart pathocracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2022.
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