Abuse of Power

                                      Corruption and Abuse of Power 

 

                 Shockingly sad face of a woman showing her hands bound at a rope with a message of abuse 

 

From  time immemorial power was an object of abuse and harassment from political and military figures whatsoever. Especially people in leadership positions  who possess power are tempted to abuse their authority with self-serving motives in order to satisfy their ambitions and unlawful desires. Abuse of power has many implications and entanglements starting from small violations up to serious crimes and intrigues. A lot of those acts take place behind the scenes and there is a lot of propaganda and misinformation involved. Bribes and kickbacks are fraudulent acts which are faced with justice and punishment. The institutional egocentric use of power is oftentimes directed towards subservient subjects and is expressed as harassment, sexual abuse or maltreatment and can only be described as corruption. 

Men in power should therefore meet the criteria of not just good education and skills but above all integrity, ethical status and a moral character. “To point out the importance of circumspection in your conduct, it may be proper to observe that a good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted at your age are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous.”  George Washington It is therefore highly important to understand our role in society and be aware of the fact that power is not an affair just for politicians, dignitaries, directors or presidents. No matter who you are and whatever you do there are moments or situations in life when you are in a position of power or authority over others, and you have the responsibility and duty to act accordingly and never use your position to take advantage and affect others by abusing your capacity.  

Where most cases of abuse of power are most frequently manifested in life and society? People in official positions like civil servants oftentimes take advantage of their position of leverage become arrogant and cross the line acting illegally. There is a large number of people in authority public or private sectors like, army, schools, businesses, hospitals, factories, enterprises and various institutions, like film industry, theaters etc. who hold positions prone to such abuse of their authority. The fact that there is impunity in play worsens the situation because they know they can get away without any punishment. “To show men that crimes can be pardoned, and that punishment is not their inevitable consequence, encourages the illusion of impunity and induces the belief that, since there are pardons, those sentences which are not pardoned are violent acts of force rather than the products of justice.” - Cesare Beccaria 

One of the worse outcomes of power abuse is sexual harassment, rape, grooming let alone domestic violence, a phenomenon that has increased sharply in recent years. An employer has no business with a man's personality. Employment is a specific contract calling for a specific performance... Any attempt to go beyond that is usurpation. It is immoral as well as an illegal intrusion of privacy. It is abuse of power. An employee owes no "loyalty," he owes no "love" and no "attitudes" - he owes performance and nothing else. .... The task is not to change personality, but to enable a person to achieve and to perform. - Peter Drucker 

Abuse of power is the result of arrogance and failure to assume responsibility. Especially the people in authority need to be role models for our society and lead an exemplary life. In order to avoid such phenomena and conduct we must offer our children a better education, a holistic ethical and moral education and of course that starts in the family with parents having a pivotal central role for their children which is the base and cornerstone of society.