Political Apathy

"The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists"

"Evil thrives on apathy and cannot exist without it"

Everywhere you go, there is some sort of populism that exists beneath the surface. Even in casual conversations, people tend to raise a point and wrap them with descriptions and conditions that appear appealing and attractive.

Running for a recent student council presidential election, it was shocking to acknowledge that our school's students altogether form a community of the politically apathetic who are so painfully uninterested in bringing beneficial, long lasting establishments for the school. The only policies that stood out to them were the promises of short-term excitement and stimulation.

"One of the greatest advantages of the totalitarian elites of the twenties and thirties was to turn any statement of fact into a question of motive." - Hannah Arendt

People are so uninterested that they fail to distinguish the facts from the fiction, and truth from falsehood. However, rather than labelling the cause of political apathy as a direct product of an uninterested populace, the government's responsibility and capability on the matter needs to be revisited. Political apathy, exists, but what needs to be done is to address the nature of political apathy. What are the agents of political apathy, what can be done to reduce it, and possibly, eradicate the social norms on political participation.

Being submerged into our daily lives and current issues at hand, we often tend to alienate politics as a matter totally unrelated to them, or even as inappropriate for discussion. The unfamiliarity people face towards political matters disturbs the stable development of liberalism in contemporary societies.

The alienation and disinterest sets the foundational basis for the politicians to corrupt the system even further with the check and balance system unintentionally dismissed by the public, leaving the core of democracy entirely vulnerable for the politicians and governmental authorities to handle.

The importance of political communication can be seen so clearly in how political apathy is driving politics in the current polities. Right now, it may merely reflect the result of a stubborn society with conditions that make it difficult for constant feedback and improvement. But later on, it could be a dangerously populist community where apathy rules over the political empowerment given to the state. And where the apathy can be used to deceive liberal mindsets.

Society is seemingly peaceful and contented. Living every day, studying, communicating with friends or fellow workers, watching videos and meaninglessly scrolling down and down into the abyss of reels and social media posts. However, we do not realise that it won't remain in that state with complete apathetic attitudes and approaches to political matters. If this reality of democracy and modern day liberalism fully becomes the social norm, the nature of freedom would become a mere blur, first in theory, and later into practice.

Moreover, active oppositions toward the preservation-of the true liberal core we fight for-as a result of political apathy, lack of knowledge, and populism can be intensely misleading to the point that it may stir extreme ideas in our communities. Meanwhile, active opposition with political interest and insight in the subject's discussion is necessary. An idea that one may consider perfect for direct implementation from theory to reality always needs to be reviewed and revised. And this type of discussion is what defines democracy in its pure state.

No matter how small or big a community may be, they are still a polity. Politics exists everywhere. Among students, among teachers, among employees, and even among pastors in a church. Everywhere I went it was heartbreaking to see that so many people misunderstand politics and think that they know everything about the study. When what they know is only a shallow surface of the deep sea of affairs. And those who know the depth of the sea desire the rest to know only the surface.