Why Do Governing Elites Support Harmful Policies?

ANALYSIS, 31 Mar 2025

Nel | Worldlines - TRANSCEND Media Service

Otto Dix (1928): Metropolis.

Inside the Social, Economic, and Psychological Drivers of Elite-Driven Militarization in Global Politics

A Perplexing Question

29 Mar 2025 – It’s March 2025, and we find ourselves in a moment when major geopolitical players—from the European Union to the United States—are openly preparing for scenarios that can only be described as catastrophic. For instance, the European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, recently unveiled its White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 (source: EC Press Corner), which solemnly warns of the pressing need to bolster military capacities in anticipation of a possible large-scale conflict with Russia. With an almost ominous flair, von der Leyen stresses that “history will not forgive inactivity” (source: t-online coverage). Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the “American Dynamism 50” event—where Senator JD Vance voiced concerns about the pitfalls of globalization—provides hypothetical but detailed scenarios of a Chinese incursion into Taiwan by 2027 (source: a16z.com). The assumption woven through all these policy briefings is that the U.S. and its allies (or vassals, depending on your perspective) must prepare for war in the near-to-mid future.

In light of this looming threat narrative that ruling Western elites are constructing, remarks by Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Carsten Breuer become much more ominous:

“Deterrence does not always have to be reactive, it also has active components.”

Breuer said the Bundeswehr must quickly become “war-ready” and “operational” by 2029. This could only be achieved by continuing to rely on NATO and purchasing weapons from the USA despite the current tensions with Washington. The European arms industry alone would not be able to meet the demand so quickly. Who is threatening whom here? (But this is a question for another article.)

These developments aren’t mere exercises in strategic forethought; they’re visions of large-scale violence that stand to imperil countless human lives. This begs the question: Why do the governing elites who craft these policies—ostensibly for the benefit of their citizens—chart such destructive courses?

Historian Richard Sakwa, in various interviews (source: Sakwa on Burning Archives), reminds us that within Western hegemonic liberalism, no alternative framework is tolerated. He paints a picture in which the entire system holds fast to an ossified ideology that demands militarization, strips away social welfare, and normalizes inequality. I’m also reminded of Hauke Ritz, who notes how the U.S.-led West consistently demonstrates an almost reflexive rejection of ideologies at odds with its classical intellectual lineage (source: Hauke Ritz on Ulrike Guerot / European Citizen Radio). That lineage, by the way, once considered slavery and stark inequality perfectly normal. In effect, any system that dares to champion robust equality or welfare is swiftly labeled “dangerous” or “impossible” while, in the same breath, reinforcing militarization as the only “rational” defense of a single, unyielding worldview.

Yet to say “it’s just ideology” is too simplistic. My aim here is to draw together threads from the material, ideological, economic, social, and psychological realms in hopes of explaining how these elites rationalize and sustain policies that ultimately hurt large swaths of the population. Consider this a guided tour through the often opaque labyrinth of power structures, group dynamics, and self-fulfilling prophecies. These are my thoughts as a social scientist—not definitive pronouncements, but rather reflections I hope will spur deeper inquiry and broader dialogue.

TO CONTINUE READING Go to Original – themindness.substack.com

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

There are no comments so far.