How the corrupt rule

After centuries of experience, world came to conclusion that only clean and transparent system can maintain state

If you want to understand the politics and history of Pakistan, then you have to first read an essay of renowned French writer Etienne de La Boetie written five centuries ago. The gist of the essay is that oppressive and absolutist rulers don’t need any army or artillery to support them; they just need a few protectors to enslave the whole country on their behalf. The close circle of such rulers consists of just half a dozen people to support them in their atrocities and get their share in the loot and plunder in return. These half a dozen hirelings establish their influence through a few hundred people who serve as their side-bearers. These few hundred people add another few thousand people to their circle and give them important positions, administrative privileges and financial powers. This is how their game of corruption and atrocities continues. This loop of a few hundred or a few thousand people look like comprising millions of people working to the benefit of each other in the exploitation of the masses, ultimately serving the ruling class. And this exploitation and oppression increases with the increase in the number of these hirelings by the same proportion. Those who derive benefits from this game of loot and exploitation are powerful enough to overcome the truthful and honest members of society.

Just as all harmful substances start gathering around an abscess or a canker in the body, similarly a corrupt person in an official position start magnetising all the corrupt people around him. This way, a gang of corrupt and thieves is formed which clings to its leader and continues to take its share in the booty. If by chance, an honest and a capable person joins them, the gang of corrupt and its leader start fearing him so much so that they start planning to throw him out, eventually succeeding. We, in Pakistan, have been seeing this same continue without resistance for the past 76 years.

Roman historian Tacitus has said: “The lust for power is fiercer than all passions. It is a hunger that is never satisfied.” Human history is wounded by the power-hungry; it is a mental illness that is borne out of inferiority complex. A person suffering from this disease becomes extremely dangerous and poisonous.

Man has been searching for the principles of collective good since the dawn of time, because the principles of collective good are the basis of human social life. Therefore, a society which is based on the principles of collective good can give every individual his rights.

When the second era of human life began, people got united and built settlements and cities and thus managed to protect their lives and properties. But this second era of human life was incomplete in the sense that man was devoid of political knowledge. The basis of the real social life of man is his political life which is governed under law and constitution. Man then learned the principles of social justice as well as respect for humanity. And thus a civilised political state came into existence with tolerance, freedom, social justice and prosperity as basic principles of its maintenance.

After centuries of experience, the world came to the conclusion that only a clean and transparent system can maintain a state, which is why the system of loot & plunder and corruption has died throughout the world. But unlike the rest of the world, a few hundred people in Pakistan are still working to keep a corrupt system running. But no matter how hard they try, they will not be able to keep this filthy corrupt system alive because people will no longer allow their economic carnage. This is the only truth.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2024.

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