Compromising with Reality over High Conflict Costs Is Collusion

The costs caused by conflict are certainly a problem, but social integration is also meaningful in and of itself and should therefore be pursued as a political goal. In our society, politics sometimes causes conflict and division instead, but politics is essentially a process that moves toward social integration. Politicians can achieve social integration by pursuing and realizing freedom and prosperity.

In history, when new eras were opened and prosperity was enjoyed, there were leaders who upheld the values and principles that guided society toward integration. Lincoln, the most respected figure in the United States, put forward the integrative value of abolishing slavery. In realizing the values of human freedom and equality, the Civil War was an intense conflict that resulted in more than 800,000 casualties. Upon such cruel sacrifice, the United States was able to move toward an integrated society. Human life has matured through such processes of integration.

In history, however, integration has not always been a good thing. There were times when people were confined within a centralized system under the false pretense of unification, and times such as under totalitarianism when people’s consciousness was controlled and difference and diversity were ignored. Politics falls into such traps when it turns away from the principle of freedom, a universal value of humanity. The principle of freedom includes individual liberty, protection of property rights, openness and free trade, government limited by law, and tolerance. Politics that departs from these social values can force a false kind of integration that imprisons people within fence-like boundaries. That cannot be called genuine social integration. True social integration is something achieved through mutual cooperation based on individual voluntariness, in a manner faithful to the universal values of humanity.

Politics must persuade people and institutionalize laws and systems in order to realize the principle of freedom; only then can it achieve social integration over the long term while minimizing the costs of conflict. Because minimizing the costs of conflict while maximizing the value of social integration is such an exceptionally difficult task, politicians are expected to demonstrate excellence.

When politicians ignore such conflicts in reality, crises intensify and the costs of conflict rise. In some cases, claiming that the costs of conflict are too high, they compromise with reality and aim merely to preserve the status quo. At such times, they are criticized for collusion. This is criticism they receive because they have failed to fulfill their duty. Avoiding conflict does not make its hidden costs disappear. Finding a fundamental solution is precisely the role politics must bear. Politicians must make the search for the right solution their vision for the future and devote all their capabilities to it.

In a democratic society, solutions for resolving problems and reducing conflict gradually become more advanced and mature. The development of electoral systems and representative government is also an example of a path toward integration. Politicians are elected through majority rule to solve problems. But politics based on majority rule can also create laws and institutions that deepen conflict. In pursuit of gain, people form groups and demand privileges. Politicians sometimes compromise with the demands of such groups in order to maintain their political influence. This kind of political corruption is common even in advanced countries that have grown into democratic states. That is because being a democratic country does not mean one can overcome the inherent limits of democracy.

The right direction for politics is to embody the value of freedom in laws and institutions. This must be achieved through democratic means, and proper politics means safeguarding the laws and institutions thus created so that they do not become corrupted. For this, the public must have a high level of awareness of the principle of freedom. The more mature a society is, the more tolerance, respect, consideration, and communication function within it; and when such traditions become established as social order, the value of freedom is not damaged.

Social conflict has always existed and will continue to arise. Moreover, if politicians consumed by populism continue to corrupt laws and institutions by acting as though they may make the choices themselves and shift the responsibility onto others, social conflict will continue to grow. Politics grounded firmly in the principle of freedom must hold the center if political corruption is to be prevented. Individuals must be free to choose, and they must bear responsibility for those choices. A society in which individuals decide and take responsibility can remain healthy. Such a bright and healthy society is the very image of proper social integration.

Sung-no Choi, President of the Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

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Original title: 갈등비용 크다고 현실과 타협하면 ‘야합’

Author: Sung-no Choi

Date: 2022-04-25

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=press&idx=24697