DIVIDE and CONQUER

Imagine an island where 100 people lived.

One of these people is called Pete, and Pete wants to be emperor.

We'd assume the 99 people he lives with would tell Pete to go fuck himself.

But in all societies there are people who struggle with independent choice. They require guidance and discipline.

Some people prefer to be controlled, others need to be controlled. They feel comfortable with familiar routines and few responsibilities. They're easily influenced, but that's not a fault: It's just their nature. These people are absolutely essential to the functioning of society.

To ensure support from these people, Pete guarantees to make life comfortable, easy and predictable.

These dependent members of the community lend quick, unthinking support. Surrendering all personal responsibility for security, happiness and convenience.

Let’s say Pete finds only 9 such people to surrender to his rule.

That leaves 90 people who did not. Of those:

Some are uncertain what to think.

Other's can't bring themselves to care.

And a handful have never even heard of Pete.

A portion would let Pete become emperor, but only if he promises to mend the potholes.

Most don't want Pete to rule over them.

Of those, some feel it's they who should be emperor.

Others think that Mary should rule the world, because she's got plans for free food, healthcare and schools.

Or maybe a committee would handle it better.

Many want to look after their own security and run their own lives.

One extremist vows to kill Pete to solve the problem. And a solitary nihilist offers to genocide

the population so there's no one left for Pete to exploit.

None of them are enthusiastic about making Pete emperor, but they all stand separate to each other; divided by desires, opinions and preferred outcomes.

Besides Pete and his 9 followers, there could easily be 90 alternative options, each concerned with their own priorities.

Pete only needs to maintain more people in direct support of himself, than any single alternative option—and they become the majority.

A well informed tyrant knows that more options available creates less chance of people agreeing.

It's in Pete's best interests to encourage individual preference, so he appears broad minded and considerate, whilst his own modest support maintains power.

A dominant power is broadly considered ‘authority’ with the ‘right’ to command or control the community, because many people fail to recognise any difference between power and authority.

Illegitimate authority is hard to undermine as our primal instincts take over.

We're social animals and depend upon one another; for companionship, food, shelter and unlimited extra benefits.

Rejection from the crowd can mean crippling shame, or in extreme circumstances—death.

We've all got an intuitive drive to remain within the safety of the herd for our own survival.

Fear prevents us challenging any assumed consensus. On impulse, most of us will accept any perceived authority to avoid alienating ourselves.

With the majority rule, Pete has legitimised his false authority in the eyes of the community, because they've all had their say in the outcome.

Not only is it possible for ONE person to rule over 99 others, but a population of a million could easily be controlled by only a handful of bullies who understand these rules of power.

Take comfort in knowing that only a minority is necessary for tyranny to hold power.

And the same applies to freedom...

Our job isn't to unite humanity around one single ideology, system or regime, but to insist on basic integrity whatever happens.