Power vs. Willpower by Ramesh Shestha

Same same but different 

Power is a versatile word used daily in physical science and in social science. In physical science it is used to express strength such as power of a computer (measured in IPS), power of an electric bulb (measured in watt) or power of an atomic bomb (measured in tons). In social science the power is the authority of individuals in institutions, in communities and even in families. How the power is exercised depends on the position of people in the hierarchy – who has authority over whom or on what. Power is a good example of hierarchical charts in social science. Just like the long arm of the law, people in power or with power can extend their authority with total ambiguity and impunity in getting what they want. 

In our administrative and governance system, including in the UN system people are assigned various levels of authority which allows them to make decisions. People with such authority use or sometimes misuse their position to achieve what they want rather than what they are allowed, commonly interpreted as abuse of authority. We often talk of higher power when it comes to exercising such authority, beyond the authorised limit with support of someone above them. Why do they do it? They do it because they can or do they do it because people fear them and think they can get away with it? There are umpteen examples to demonstrate undue exercise of power locally, nationally and internationally including in the UN system by people in power. 

Power vs. willpower

People are blessed with both power and willpower. How we exercise our power and willpower often defines who we are. As the saying goes ‘there is more power in the open hand than in the clenched fist’. Open hand defines our willpower to negotiate in all circumstances as opposed to clenched fist where the person remains rigid even if it means losing just to demonstrate power. There are, however, circumstances where sane people may take such a rigid position to stand by the principle, which he believes in – a positive expression of power. 

The willpower of people in power seems much weaker than their power. We often see misuse of power more often than its use for humanity’s welfare. The corruption we see in trade, industry and finances, and the avoidable conflicts we see around us are largely due to misuse of power, pure arrogance. Is it because they can get away with it by threat, if nothing else? 

Looking back in history we have seen how the willpower of leaders like Nelson Mandela brought down the organised atrocities of apartheid regime yet established a healthy relationship with the White minority until his last breath. People of Vietnam which fought successive battles for centuries with the Chinese, Japanese, French and the Americans not only won the battles and maintained their national integrity but still have the willpower to maintain friendship without any grudge with all these four aggressive nations. These are in sharp contrast to today’s environment. 

Has power become Schizophrenic?  

People and countries with power have the authority to do good but they can do equally bad as we witnessed in recent history. It is the real-life story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The more power people or countries have the more condescending they become, sounds familiar? It looks like their feet are no longer on the ground. Exercising power could be for a beneficial purpose but more often than not it is used for a destructive purpose. Power seems to distort the relationship between thoughts and emotions in the internal thinking processes of people leading to fantasy and delusions. Is it an illusion? Definitely not! Leaders often contradict their behaviours and actions. They do it because they can? What makes powerful people so irresponsible and even immoral? What makes Mr. Hyde murder Dr. Jekyll in us? Or did Mr. Hyde forced Dr. Jekyll to commit suicide?  

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Among all of us and everything around us has a bit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, coexisting with a symbiotic relationship. Current social media may be the best example to illustrate this. Dr. Jekyll in social media has contributed substantially for the betterment of society’s wellbeing. It helped smooth the flow of communication between people. Social media has unleashed people’s hidden talents to express ideas and opportunities without any restraints. Meanwhile, the function of Mr. Hyde has taken a lethal position in dismantling many of our societal structures, luring people to achieve unattainable targets. The visual media has diverted people’s attention even from their crucial tasks regularly. 

Live streaming by a gunman shooting at innocent people in Buffalo on 15 May 2022 and live streaming by gunman in a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand that killed 51 people in 36 minutes on 15 March 2019 are some of the extreme examples of Mr. Hyde on social media. A sheer cruelty. Changes in human society are normal. Some people believe we are luddites, and refuse to accept changes. We don’t have to accept all changes lying down. People must be responsible to choose any changes that will and will not contribute to society. Mr. Hyde thrives on our weaknesses. It is a matter of self-regulation. People are not luddites.

What is happening to our willpower?

People have at their disposal a lot of power but many have little fortitude to understand and exercise their power with humility and discretion. Many people with their mantle of freedom seem unable to understand the meaning of balance of power, counter-power and higher power in relation to one’s willpower. No one in the world expects every human being on Earth to have willpower like that of Nelson Mandela or even a Vietnamese citizen of the 1960s. Average human being has enough general knowledge to exercise their willpower such as not using mobile phones while stopping at the red traffic light, restrain from producing excess garbage, and not to be swayed by fake social media which are detrimental to personal health and environment. There are umpteen examples of people’s lack of willpower from above simple examples to much more complex issues of wars and conflicts where the issues of balance of power, idea of supremacy are at play. Where did we go wrong? 

The world will still be interesting 

Is it possible that if everyone exercised their willpower positively and remained consistent in their behaviour and everything in the world functions as it should, our society might be totally sterile and uninteresting? It will not be. Given the diversity among people living in 193 UN member states and numerous territories spread across seven continents, life will always be entertaining, provided we do not kill the diversity that exists among people, nations and the environment. Social and environmental changes in recent decades, all of which are attributable to human behaviour have already impacted negatively on our societies and countries, some of which are irreversible. We often see that power is inversely propagate to willpower. As the power gets stronger willpower becomes weaker.

We need to strike a balance between the power we exercise and the willpower that is locked in us. It is just self-discipline, an ability to do or not to do things that are abhorrent to society & to the environment.

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