Power, abuse of power and corruption are explored in literature on many different levels. From Robin Hood to Shakespeare's Macbeth and to Lord of the Flies, characters in books (and history) have been doing terrible things to acquire power, and worse things to keep it, and readers love to read about them. Of course, political and/or corporate mischief is a wonderful source of inspiration for the writer. So - suppose you want to write a book with the theme of power and corruption. Where do you start?
Well, you could do worse than to reflect on where your own ideas and beliefs originated? Where do you stand on women's rights, climate change, (and what to do about it), sustainability, pensions, universal suffrage and free education?
The last three examples above are no longer current issues. We take them for granted. There will be nobody alive today to recall the struggle of minority groups who took up the challenge of changing the education system, the electoral system or of introducing a pension system. Nonetheless, through direct action, protest, mischief and disruption, a small group of people were willing to promote their view and make the changes that we take for granted today.
How did they manage it?
The minorities who campaigned for pensions, free education and universal suffrage were obliged to break established cultural norms in order to grab the headlines and get their voices heard. However, in doing so, they were often shunned or criticised by the mainstream media. In other words, the mechanisms they chose to make an impact alienated the general public, and campaigners were kept on the fringes of society.
So - how did they succeed?
Yes, they were kept on the fringes of society until the established power-of-the-day saw fit to appropriate the ideas of the minority and make them their own. This manoeuvre allowed the powers-of-the-time to take control of potentially revolutionary ideas and take credit for implementing change. Meanwhile, discrimination against minorities and minority views carried on.
The same activities that led the media to deride campaigners for women's right to vote may well be repeated with present-day movements like Extinction Rebellion or Black Lives Matter (BLM).
How do you feel about Extinction Rebellion or Black Lives Matter? Are these movements just a minority view and expressed by noisy, vociferous and troublesome people? A perusal of the press reveals a criticism that focuses on the methods or character of the minority, not their message. Extinction Rebellion are often dubbed bossy extremists, and Black Live Matter protestors are referred to as thugs and criminals. In this way, the general public is discouraged from identifying with them. These movements are kept at the fringes of society and they will stay there until the powers-that-be deem otherwise.
Here are four of my favourite novels that deal with themes of power and corruption.
I, Claudius, by Robert Graves. A razor-sharp story of political maneuvering in ancient Rome that involves murder and conspiracy, fake news, and power brokers.
The Parallax View, by Loren Singer. A journalist witnesses the assassination of a president, and years later discovers that eye witnesses to the event are being killed off in mysterious ways.
The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy. It is set during the height of the Cold War that not only deals with spies, but also with behind-closed-doors political maneuvering, and global stakes.
The Constant Gardener, by John le Carré. A novel about politics and corruption and crimes committed in the name of patriotism and politics.
And, finally, here are a few notes I made about a possible novel concerning the corona pandemic, corruption of power and politics in the deep south of the US. These ideas came from an American friend of mine but, given that I am English, I don't feel able to write such a book! Here are the notes.
- Preachers and conservative politicians maintain control of their followers by inventing fears and telling their followers they have the solution.
- Covid is rampant in the deep south but those in power know they can't solve the problem. Given that they can't be the ones to give their followers the solution, preachers and politicians have to tell their followers there is no problem.
- People trust their leaders. Precautions are not taken and people start dying in large numbers.
- And then, several preachers and politicians are shot dead by person or persons unknown...
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