Political lying, democracy, governance, truth, manipulation, public trust, Machiavelli, state secrets, disinformation
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Abstract
Extract
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Abstract
Explore the role of lying in politics, its implications on democracy, and whether it's a necessary tool for governance or a betrayal of public trust.
Extract
[...] In domestic politics, lying also allows for the preservation of social cohesion. Imagine a government announcing bluntly that the economy is on the brink of collapse. Far from allowing for collective awareness, this would provoke a wave of panic, massive withdrawals from the bank, and the collapse of the market. Sometimes, the omission or distortion of the truth aims to preserve public order. A striking example is offered by the satirical film Don't Look Up by Adam McKay. In this film, a giant comet threatens to annihilate the Earth. [...]
[...] Conclusion So, should we lie to govern? The answer is neither entirely affirmative, nor entirely negative. Governing sometimes requires a part of dissimulation, a wrapping of the truth, but this lie must never become an end in itself. It must never erase the responsibility of the ruler towards those he serves. Truth is an ideal, but an ideal that politics cannot totally do without, lest it lose itself. I leave you with this reflection: is lying in politics a necessary evil? or simply an avoidable evil? [...]
[...] Lying: 'constant' of political power to serve stability Far from the democratic ideal where the people are sovereign and informed, history shows that political lying is a constant, whether it is tactical, diplomatic, or strategic. Should we then be outraged? Or, on the contrary, recognize that in certain cases, it is a necessary tool for the exercise of power? Let's take the example of crises. When Winston Churchill, in 1940, told his people that he had only 'blood, sweat, toil and tears' to offer, he was not mentioning the heavy strategic losses he was already anticipating. [...]
[...] When Nixon denied his involvement in the Watergate scandal, when political leaders downplay the impact of an ecological disaster, we are no longer in a government tactic, but in a betrayal of public trust. A necessary evil or simply inevitable? Should we then ban lying in politics? Such a demand would be utopian. It is difficult to imagine a world where leaders would renounce all forms of concealment. Yet, a distinction must be made between ethical lying - that which protects a higher interest - and toxic lying - that which serves a personal ambition or manipulates public opinion. Thus, governing sometimes requires silencing unacceptable truths, wrapping unpopular decisions in reassuring speeches. [...]
