Stripes letter (sociology professor): Absolute power has its flaws

Absolute power has its flaws

I would like to add a note of caution to the idea expressed by Arthur Herman (“In an era of one superpower, we’re all safer,” column, March 16 print edition). It has to do with the nature of power, especially unopposed power — one that is strong enough to protect the world.

The fundamental problem of one superpower (whether nationally or internationally) is that power becomes corrupt over time if unchecked and unbalanced by another countervailing power equal to it. As Lord Acton said aptly, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

We know historically, as well as around our workplaces, that unchecked powers corrupt and become sources of injustice sooner or later, likely sooner than later. With this wisdom in mind, the Founding Fathers established a checks-and-balances system to avoid corrupt power in America. According to this wisdom, the “sole protector” of the world can also be the sole determinant of the terms of protection.

The temptation to be the sole power over our opponents is irresistible for everyone. As an American, I prefer the United States to be the sole superpower in the same way I want to be the sole superpower-administrator at the university where I work or even the sole superpower-teacher in the classrooms where I teach. That would make my work so much easier, since nobody could oppose my will. But my own propensity for injustice and corruption would increase proportionally to my unchecked power, since no one can oppose me.

The sole superpower is, in essence, the sole dictator of the world, with no opposition. No empires, no kings, no corporate chiefs, no family heads, no one of unchecked power we observe or read about, has ever been known to remain just when their power is absolute and unchallenged for long. Even the British Empire, though highly praised by Herman, first and last, imposed or tried to impose its will upon the opposition.

This has nothing to do with the specific moral character or intent of the United States as the world’s sole superpower at the moment. It could reasonably be argued that the United States has been a relatively kinder and gentler superpower or that its use of power has been more restrained and judicious than any other known power before it; or that the United States could be the first such power in history to avoid the trap of all absolute powers and remain just. But neither human history nor logic of power has shown us any reason to trust absolute power, even when we, ourselves, are the absolute power.

Naturally, all just and wise men (and women) avoid absolute power, for they know what it can do — even to the most just and most wise people. It is where no decent human being or nation should ever want to tread — however tempting — much less to actively pursue it or celebrate its attainment.

Dominating others with absolute power always leads to injustice and tragedy. Slavery and the Holocaust are but two of the more recent examples.

Jon Huer
Sociology professor
University of Maryland
Osan Air Base, South Korea

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=27984

running the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches of the US government. After all, Bush has
absolute power in Washington.