I am so glad Rainer shared a quote from this on FB. Nice to meet you!
So I'm particularly interested in your essay here because I was once working on a PhD in social psychology. I ended up quitting with a masters, but I still love the topic.
I don't usually bring up my schooling because I find it repulsive when other people do lol. But i bring it up here because that training has made me appreciate the state's use of social psychology. Truly I don't know where to start in terms of comments, I am just thrilled that you are thinking about this and writing about it!
I still think the US empire does a very good job with psychological trickery. It's also a constant conundrum to weigh, "Are they really this stupid?" And "There is no way they actually think that, what is the angle?"
Like the Ukraine war. I heard a commenter say that the US got exactly what they wanted here by decoupling Germany from Russia. Maybe. But I also have a hard time believing they have anticipated all contingencies. Especially with our government’s complete disrespect of other governments. If the deep state is not god (and I don’t think it is OF COURSE), it means the deep state is fallible, and hubris is a real thing.
At the same time, I rarely think an action is taken by mistake.
One perspective of mine that has shifted since becoming part of the anti-imperialist movement is the nature of the manipulation of politicians and other important leaders or influential people. A year ago, I thought the empire pushes people to act with plata or plomo. End of story.
I have come to understand via Caleb Maupin that that view was incorrect. Yes of course they use bribes and threats. Of course. But far more sinister is the cultivation of different mindsets in these politicians.
It truly scares the shit out of me when someone does evil things because they think those things are justified. But much worse than that is the empire's sculpting of certain individuals to do the empire's bidding WITHOUT THE PERSON REALIZING THEY ARE BEING USED.
It echoes the propaganda inflicted on the commoners, but this manipulation of single individuals is just a whole new level of evil, imo.
I would say that the State's actors aren't stupid per se. They're operating on an internal system of logic that simply doesn't correspond to reality; it would be a mistake to think of them as stupid, incapable, or even as having "evil" motivations.
The material culture they exist within (and which is in meaningful ways separate from the material culture of the masses) has created within them a particular world outlook, and from the perspective of this world outlook they are not only justified, but morally good.
Rather than seeing conflict between good and evil (which is one of the mistakes the Bourgeoisie make), the situation is much more clearly explained as being a simple conflict of interests; the natural result of processes set in motion long ago.
I am so glad Rainer shared a quote from this on FB. Nice to meet you!
So I'm particularly interested in your essay here because I was once working on a PhD in social psychology. I ended up quitting with a masters, but I still love the topic.
I don't usually bring up my schooling because I find it repulsive when other people do lol. But i bring it up here because that training has made me appreciate the state's use of social psychology. Truly I don't know where to start in terms of comments, I am just thrilled that you are thinking about this and writing about it!
I still think the US empire does a very good job with psychological trickery. It's also a constant conundrum to weigh, "Are they really this stupid?" And "There is no way they actually think that, what is the angle?"
Like the Ukraine war. I heard a commenter say that the US got exactly what they wanted here by decoupling Germany from Russia. Maybe. But I also have a hard time believing they have anticipated all contingencies. Especially with our government’s complete disrespect of other governments. If the deep state is not god (and I don’t think it is OF COURSE), it means the deep state is fallible, and hubris is a real thing.
At the same time, I rarely think an action is taken by mistake.
One perspective of mine that has shifted since becoming part of the anti-imperialist movement is the nature of the manipulation of politicians and other important leaders or influential people. A year ago, I thought the empire pushes people to act with plata or plomo. End of story.
I have come to understand via Caleb Maupin that that view was incorrect. Yes of course they use bribes and threats. Of course. But far more sinister is the cultivation of different mindsets in these politicians.
It truly scares the shit out of me when someone does evil things because they think those things are justified. But much worse than that is the empire's sculpting of certain individuals to do the empire's bidding WITHOUT THE PERSON REALIZING THEY ARE BEING USED.
It echoes the propaganda inflicted on the commoners, but this manipulation of single individuals is just a whole new level of evil, imo.
I'm happy you've found my writings meaningful.
I would say that the State's actors aren't stupid per se. They're operating on an internal system of logic that simply doesn't correspond to reality; it would be a mistake to think of them as stupid, incapable, or even as having "evil" motivations.
The material culture they exist within (and which is in meaningful ways separate from the material culture of the masses) has created within them a particular world outlook, and from the perspective of this world outlook they are not only justified, but morally good.
Rather than seeing conflict between good and evil (which is one of the mistakes the Bourgeoisie make), the situation is much more clearly explained as being a simple conflict of interests; the natural result of processes set in motion long ago.