abuse of power john p. j. dussich

The 9th APGC on Victimology and Victim Assistance

Abuse of Abuse of PowerPower

John P. J. DussichJohn P. J. DussichAugust 19, 2009August 19, 2009

““The lust of power is the most flagrant of all the The lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions.”passions.”

TacitusTacitus

John P. J. Dussich


IntroductionIntroduction In 1532 Niccolo Machiavelli, a well known In 1532 Niccolo Machiavelli, a well known

Italian statesman and writer, in trying to Italian statesman and writer, in trying to gain political favor with a corrupt gain political favor with a corrupt government so as to unite Italy, wrote in his government so as to unite Italy, wrote in his book book The Prince, The Prince, that “to get power and that “to get power and remain in power a leader had to forget remain in power a leader had to forget ideals.” Although these suggestions did ideals.” Although these suggestions did notnot reflect his true philosophy and he wrote reflect his true philosophy and he wrote outside his true convictions, it permanently outside his true convictions, it permanently associated him with corruption and abuse.associated him with corruption and abuse.


HistoryHistory

From antiquity to the present, history is replete with From antiquity to the present, history is replete with dramatic and diverse examples of individual victim dramatic and diverse examples of individual victim abusersabusers of power. Some of the more of power. Some of the more infamousinfamous were: Caligula, Nero, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, were: Caligula, Nero, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Shaka the Zulu, Adolf Hilter, Josef Stalin, Idi Amin, Shaka the Zulu, Adolf Hilter, Josef Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Slobodan Milosović, and Saddam Hussein.Pol Pot, Slobodan Milosović, and Saddam Hussein.

However, some responses to abuses have also However, some responses to abuses have also motivated individual motivated individual crusaderscrusaders, who became , who became heroesheroes on behalf of mass victim suffering: Mahatma on behalf of mass victim suffering: Mahatma Gandhi, Harriet Tubmen, Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Harriet Tubmen, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mother Theresa, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.Mandela.


For and Against AbuseFor and Against Abuse The abusers The crusadersThe abusers The crusaders


Examples of Abuse of Power victims: Examples of Abuse of Power victims:

1944 in 1944 in Germany - Jews 1994 in Rwanda - TutsisGermany - Jews 1994 in Rwanda - Tutsis


Some responses have been organized Some responses have been organized violentviolent efforts efforts resulting in wars within and between nations. resulting in wars within and between nations.

Some have been Some have been peacefulpeaceful efforts resulting in organizations efforts resulting in organizations created to address major abuses: Amnesty International, created to address major abuses: Amnesty International, International Red Cross and Red Crescent, World Society of International Red Cross and Red Crescent, World Society of Victimology, International Society for Social Defense. Victimology, International Society for Social Defense.

The international instrument created in 1985 to alert the The international instrument created in 1985 to alert the world about the world about the international resolveinternational resolve against abuse of against abuse of power was the power was the United Nations Declaration of Basic United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Powerof Power..

The most recent organization created to deal directly and The most recent organization created to deal directly and legally with abusers of power is the legally with abusers of power is the International International Criminal CourtCriminal Court located in the Hague, the Netherlands. located in the Hague, the Netherlands.


Basic DefinitionsBasic Definitions AbuseAbuse – The violation of a standard, – The violation of a standard,

especially an agreed upon standard, where especially an agreed upon standard, where persons, either “individually or collectively, persons, either “individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of loss or substantial impairment of fundamental rights, through acts or fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that do not yet constitute omissions that do not yet constitute violations of national criminal laws but of violations of national criminal laws but of internationally recognized norms relating to internationally recognized norms relating to human rights” (UN Declaration, 1985). human rights” (UN Declaration, 1985).

PowerPower – “A recognized aggregation of forces – “A recognized aggregation of forces of significant magnitude to exert a major of significant magnitude to exert a major influence over people” (Dussich, 1991).influence over people” (Dussich, 1991).


Other DefinitionsOther Definitions

I define I define abuse of powerabuse of power as the as the violation of an international standard violation of an international standard in the use of forces such that persons in the use of forces such that persons are injured physically, mentally, are injured physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, or in their emotionally, economically, or in their rights, as a direct and intentional rights, as a direct and intentional result of the misapplication of these result of the misapplication of these forces (Dussich, 1991). forces (Dussich, 1991).


Causal StatementCausal Statement

Using the behavioral precepts of my Psycho/social Using the behavioral precepts of my Psycho/social Coping Model, a Coping Model, a causal statementcausal statement for abuse of power for abuse of power would be:would be:

“ “Abuse of power results when a powerful social Abuse of power results when a powerful social entity (entity (abuserabuser) with extensive resources seeking ) with extensive resources seeking specific objectives, takes purposive actions specific objectives, takes purposive actions ((methodsmethods) to obtain expected rewards, with little or ) to obtain expected rewards, with little or no regard for the injury caused to persons (no regard for the injury caused to persons (victimsvictims), ), principles or property. The expectations and methods principles or property. The expectations and methods used are shaped by learned, socio-cultural notions used are shaped by learned, socio-cultural notions that justify violations of international standards that that justify violations of international standards that promise significant rewards with promise significant rewards with impunityimpunity.”.”


TaxonomyTaxonomy Based on this causal statement a Based on this causal statement a

taxonomy is hereby presented based taxonomy is hereby presented based on on threethree of the main variables: an of the main variables: an abuserabuser who misuses power; a who misuses power; a methodmethod which directs that power; and, a which directs that power; and, a victimvictim who suffers from the abuse of who suffers from the abuse of that power.that power.

Using this taxonomy six infamous Using this taxonomy six infamous examples of abuse of power are here examples of abuse of power are here listed: listed:


Examples of Collective Abusers of Examples of Collective Abusers of PowerPower

Types of Abusers Actual Abusers Methods used Victims

Governements Former South Africa ApartheidBlacks and Coloreds

CorporationsExxon's ship "Valdez" Oil Pollution

Alaskan flora, fauna, & environs

Crime Organizations Mafia Rackteering Business & citizens

Religious Organizations

Medieval Catholic Church Inquisition Heretics

Correctional Institutions Prison staff Torture Inmates

Secret Societies Ku Klux KlanIntimidation and Murder

Black Southern Americans


PragmaticsPragmatics PreventionPrevention – To effectively achieve any success at – To effectively achieve any success at

social change we must go beyond repeated social change we must go beyond repeated descriptions of abuses of power (no matter how descriptions of abuses of power (no matter how compelling). We must move to action that can compelling). We must move to action that can directly thwart those decisions which give rise to directly thwart those decisions which give rise to abuse of power behaviors.abuse of power behaviors.

MeasurementMeasurement – the magnitude of the abuse of – the magnitude of the abuse of power problem far exceeds the problem of power problem far exceeds the problem of conventional crime. Yet, few comprehensive studies conventional crime. Yet, few comprehensive studies have been conducted to measure its extent and have been conducted to measure its extent and nature. The closest estimates indicate that nature. The closest estimates indicate that the last the last century’s abuses of power killingscentury’s abuses of power killings were close to the were close to the entire world population at the time of Jesus entire world population at the time of Jesus Christ just two millennia ago (Christ just two millennia ago (169 million 169 million compared tocompared to about 200 millonabout 200 millon) ) (Rummel, 1997).


continuedcontinued

More humans have been killed because of More humans have been killed because of the abuse of power in the the abuse of power in the past centurypast century than in any of the other previous centuries than in any of the other previous centuries (estimated at 169,000,000 people). (estimated at 169,000,000 people).

In almost all abuse of power events great In almost all abuse of power events great rewardsrewards were reaped by the abusers; in were reaped by the abusers; in almost all cases abusers enjoyed complete almost all cases abusers enjoyed complete impunityimpunity; and, in some cases the abusers ; and, in some cases the abusers were made were made heroesheroes as a direct result of as a direct result of their actions. their actions.


TheoryTheoryThe three most often cited theoretical perspectives on The three most often cited theoretical perspectives on

international conflict are: the international conflict are: the functionalistfunctionalist, the , the conflictconflict and and the the social psychologicalsocial psychological..

The The functionalist perspectivefunctionalist perspective focuses on the product of focuses on the product of world world disorganizationdisorganization. Each nation has different self . Each nation has different self interests; as these collide with one another, disputes arise interests; as these collide with one another, disputes arise which result in war and produce mass victimization. which result in war and produce mass victimization.

The The conflict perspectiveconflict perspective focuses on focuses on economic and economic and political exploitationpolitical exploitation. The capitalist nations obtain labor and . The capitalist nations obtain labor and raw materials from underdeveloped nations reaping vast raw materials from underdeveloped nations reaping vast profits; and, in their wake, leave large numbers of victims.profits; and, in their wake, leave large numbers of victims.

The The social psychological perspectivesocial psychological perspective considers both considers both individual and cultural issuesindividual and cultural issues. Thus,. instinctive as well as . Thus,. instinctive as well as learned aggressiveness produces a sense of ethnocentric learned aggressiveness produces a sense of ethnocentric territoriality, which when threatened, produces armed territoriality, which when threatened, produces armed warfare and mass victimization.warfare and mass victimization.


ConclusionsConclusions It is clear that our world mechanisms to prevent abuses It is clear that our world mechanisms to prevent abuses

of power by rouge nations is, for the most part, of power by rouge nations is, for the most part, ineffectiveineffective. If the current trend continues, this next . If the current trend continues, this next century will experience an even greater number of century will experience an even greater number of abuses of power and the victim numbers will exceed abuses of power and the victim numbers will exceed those of past centuries. those of past centuries.

The facts are: the world population continues to grow at The facts are: the world population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate (an unprecedented rate (if current growth continuesif current growth continues the the world's population of 6.5 billion today will become 13 world's population of 6.5 billion today will become 13 billion by 2067)billion by 2067); recent violations of human rights ; recent violations of human rights abuses have gone mostly abuses have gone mostly unpunishedunpunished; most of these ; most of these offenders have enjoyed the fruits of their abuses with offenders have enjoyed the fruits of their abuses with impunity; the UN’s Security Council and the International impunity; the UN’s Security Council and the International Criminal Court in the Hague are very slow, under- Criminal Court in the Hague are very slow, under- staffed, under-funded and politically handicapped to the staffed, under-funded and politically handicapped to the point of virtual ineffectiveness; and, the victims of point of virtual ineffectiveness; and, the victims of abuses of power, for the most part, do not get the abuses of power, for the most part, do not get the services they need and deserve.services they need and deserve.


A Possible SolutionA Possible Solution In my opinion at least three essential changes In my opinion at least three essential changes

must take place to prevent further abuses:must take place to prevent further abuses:11stst, armed political power must be , armed political power must be defuseddefused, , sharedshared and and controlledcontrolled within a democratic within a democratic course; 2course; 2ndnd, all violations must be responded , all violations must be responded to by the community of nations quickly, to by the community of nations quickly, decisively with adequate severity of decisively with adequate severity of punishment so that the basic principles of punishment so that the basic principles of deterrence will thwart those who might deterrence will thwart those who might contemplate future abuses of power; and, 3contemplate future abuses of power; and, 3rdrd, , an international resolve against this trend an international resolve against this trend must be manifested in an existing world must be manifested in an existing world organization, logically the United Nations.organization, logically the United Nations.


A Plan of ActionA Plan of Action I propose that: 1. a I propose that: 1. a deterrent mechanismdeterrent mechanism be established by the be established by the

UN Security Council so that realistic and humane methods are UN Security Council so that realistic and humane methods are created to bring offenders to justice; 2. programs be initiated to created to bring offenders to justice; 2. programs be initiated to target cultural supports that encourage hero worship for those target cultural supports that encourage hero worship for those who would use armed force against ethnic groups who have who would use armed force against ethnic groups who have been marked as historical enemies and replaced with been marked as historical enemies and replaced with new new heroesheroes who work toward and successfully achieve who work toward and successfully achieve peaceful peaceful resolutions for conflictsresolutions for conflicts among old enemies; 3. among old enemies; 3. democratic democratic institutionsinstitutions be encouraged and supported in all countries, be encouraged and supported in all countries, especially among those authoritative and totalitarian regimes especially among those authoritative and totalitarian regimes from whence most of the abuse of power emanates, so that from whence most of the abuse of power emanates, so that power becomes a shared entity, monitored and controlled to power becomes a shared entity, monitored and controlled to serve the needs of all the people it is entrusted to protect and serve the needs of all the people it is entrusted to protect and accountable to recognized international human rights norms accountable to recognized international human rights norms and standards; and, 4. all living abuse of power and standards; and, 4. all living abuse of power victims be victims be treatedtreated with state of the art interventions to insure that their with state of the art interventions to insure that their sufferings are addressed such that victims are brought to a sufferings are addressed such that victims are brought to a functional level of recovery with dignity and humanness as an functional level of recovery with dignity and humanness as an action reflecting the joint resolve of the community of nations. action reflecting the joint resolve of the community of nations.


““We owe respect to the We owe respect to the living; to the dead we owe living; to the dead we owe

only truth.” only truth.” VoltaireVoltaire


ReferencesReferences Dussich, J. P. J. (1991) “Some theoretical and Pragmatic Dussich, J. P. J. (1991) “Some theoretical and Pragmatic

Observations on the Abuse of Power,” Observations on the Abuse of Power,” Victims and Criminal Justice: Particular Groups of Victims Part 2, G. Kaiser, H. Kury, G. Kaiser, H. Kury, H.-J. Albrecht (eds.) Freiburg in Breisgau: Max-Planck-Institute H.-J. Albrecht (eds.) Freiburg in Breisgau: Max-Planck-Institute ffür Ausländisches und Internationales Strafrecht volume 52.ür Ausländisches und Internationales Strafrecht volume 52.

Machiavelli, N. (1532) Machiavelli, N. (1532) The Prince and other works. (1941) Translated by A. H. Gilbert. Chicago: Packard and Company.

Rummel, R. J. (1997) Rummel, R. J. (1997) Statistics of Democide, Charlotte, , Charlotte, Virginia, Center for National Security Law, School of Law, Virginia, Center for National Security Law, School of Law, University of Virginia, New Brunswick, N. J. Transaction University of Virginia, New Brunswick, N. J. Transaction Publishers and Rutgers Univeristy.Publishers and Rutgers Univeristy.

United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, (1985) Adopted by the , (1985) Adopted by the General Assembly Resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985. General Assembly Resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985.

Voltaire, A. de (1840) Voltaire, A. de (1840) Premiere Lettre sur Oedipe. Theatres . Theatres Francais Dramatiques de Voltaire.Francais Dramatiques de Voltaire.

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