Might is lawful

Though its etymological expositions might be relatively newer, the practical application of the maxim ‘might is right’ is as old as human history. In most instances throughout history, brute force has remained the dominant player in directing the affairs of individuals, groups, societies and empires. The mightier, regardless of the means and sources of power, dictated the lives of the people in line that served in the best possible manner the interests of potent authorities. The source of this unbridled, and most times unpopular stakes, mainly emanated from the combination of force, coercion, disinformation, metaphysical exposition and exploitation of misinformed public opinion.

The capitalisation of primitive theological beliefs through the nexus of political and religious authorities and subsequent encroachment of resources empowered the powerful to carefully craft the psychological, political, economic and religious contours of societies. The precepts of Divine Right and hereditary succession of power had been the fewer implicit or explicit justifications for the authoritative control of the resources. As the dictator of history, the powerful have always tried to justify all their activities and those of their predecessors and successors on different pretexts. However, the savagery embodied in the antediluvian percept remained subject to bitter criticism in ancient times from many sane quarters and individuals. From Thales to Hellenists; from Stoics to Socrates; the traditional way of living and cognition faced great challenges. This created trouble for the powerful and, sometimes, the philosophers.

Moreover, the rationalist, renaissance and enlightened movements in modern times played vital roles in putting cracks in the ill-informed notion of power. The despotic rule in European territories failed to withstand the enlightened ideals professed by philosophers including Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jaen Jacques Rousseau, Baron de Montesquieu, Voltaire and Denis Detroit. The growing calls for the liberal, enlightened, nationalistic and equalitarian ideal forced imperial Europe to rethink the social contract and transform the society on fairer terms with their own people.

The European colonialists, however, selfishly kept their colonies within the dictum of might is right. Resultantly, the legacy of might as the supreme force remained entrenched in countries emerging out of the mass decolonisation unleashed by the aftermath of World War-II. In most post-colonial societies, the legacy has been perpetuated through the implied assent of law as the same exists today in a more acceptable and uglier shape. The patronised feudal, landed and ethnic aristocracy who had earned the blessed glances of their colonial masters for their extraordinary services in sycophancy, public exploitation and persecution sustain the sacred task of their colonisers in an institutionalised, legalised and more brutalised form.

As the authoritative in-charge of national stakes, the post-colonial filthy power elite glazed the dictum with constitutional, legal, patriotic, religious and ethnic colours. They selectively added narratives about patriotism, nationalism, ethnic affiliations, religious beliefs and false historical propositions in the laws. Governments in these societies are, therefore, nothing but aggregates of the colonial, military and political elites while most of the laws are no lesser than their interests codified into constitutional, legal and national security frameworks. Resultantly, the might not only becomes right but also legal, constitutional, divine, ethical and democratic.

And result? If history witnessed Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini; we have in many of today’s post-colonial societies the blends of these combined. The former used brute force, the latter used brute laws executed through venal puppets and flatterers. Questioning the might of political authority, therefore, endangers democracy; the judiciary, constitutes contempt; the military, amounts to treason; religious authorities, jeopardise religion; and media, threatens truth. Way forward? Enlightenment 2.0. Belling the cat, in these situations, warrants a Herculean heart.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2022.

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