Transforming mindsets, changing how we do politics

Conflict in society is inevitable although it is not always the result of the presence of differences, but the absence of creative alternatives for responding to it. The problem often lies with our political design and its influence on our interpretation of perceived and real differences, and subsequently how that design informs policymakers and the legal framework.

For this article, we intentionally put aside broad political labels such as ‘democracy’, ‘autocracy’, ‘left’ or ‘right’, ‘moderate’ or ‘extreme’ and focus on what we need and want politics to do for us. When our focus is on our goals and not on labels and trying hard to fit in those or worrying how the world will perceive our politics, we are more likely to pay attention to our needs and then build the best institutional pathways to achieving our aims and goals in life.

We take our responsibilities to the world seriously; we need others just as they need us. It is therefore in our best interest that consideration is made of how our decisions contribute not only to empowering us but also to creating a safer environment and prosperous future for all.

Politics without consideration for justice but what individuals and groups can gain for themselves regardless of the damage that it may cause to others is a stain in the moral fabric of our society. There must be demands for society to engage in the designing of a political framework that is safe, secure, just and acceptable to all.

We must not cede to greed and the desire for dominance over others but be transformed by the need to champion justice, what is good, acceptable, and fair for the wider society.

Subordinating other population groups is not what will keep us safe and secure, it is not what will extend fortunes and growth to our communities but listening and cooperation will. Our lives do not get better because our neighbours’ circumstances have gotten worse, but they improve because they are better than they were yesterday.

This takes us to the next level where we call for political integrity and the transformation of minds and creation of institutional pathways based on wisdom and spontaneous justice — wisdom where we consciously apply the principles of fairness to complex political and moral circumstances, and spontaneous justice where our unconscious political judgement is aligned with what is good for society and exercise of political power is consistently in the public interest.

Defining the public interest may be debatable, but, as a minimum, it refers to the well-being or welfare of society which includes collective needs and concerns, guiding policymakers and legal frameworks to act for the benefit of the community, rather than for individual gain.

It can be argued that public interest implies that decisions are taken in the wider interests of society and independent of private interests and never intended to extend favour to individuals at the expense of society.

Credibility is important, we must ensure that ‘the public interest’ inferred in policy is a true reflection of society not a product of an ecosystem of the powerful in society; policies and processes must be demonstrably necessary and proportionate for the real and substantial benefit to the public, rather than vague or generic benefits.

By substantial public interest, we mean the public interest needs to be real and of substance. It is insufficient to make a vague or generic public interest argument to justify a policy decision; specific arguments about the concrete wider benefits of policy decisions must be presented. It is incumbent upon policymakers to consider how processes benefit the public in terms of both depth (i.e., the amount of benefit experienced from a policy) and breadth (the volume of people benefiting from the policy).

Perception is fundamental in politics; our systems and institutions must be designed and be seen to be serving the public interest. This helps address widespread anger that may emanate from the perceived appropriation of public policy by certain interest groups.

The best way to ensure that governments consistently act in the public interest and are not disproportionately influenced by financial, criminal or other vested interests, is to design policy and decision-making processes that are inclusive, transparent and accountable.

Checks and balances are the bulwark of transparency in governance, we must extend access to information by the public. The motives of those with political influence to frame policy must be under constant check and renewal in response to public interest.

The public dream is that governance structures and institutional pathways of power represent, as closely as possible, the inner soul of society, not certain interest groups. Policymakers and the legal framers must take public interest into account; that is, policies and laws must cover a wide range of values and principles relating to the public good, or what is in the best interests of society.