"Wickedness in high places"

The reasons for the global protests that political and financial high circles are facing right now should be obvious for anyone who bothers to pay attention to the state of the world. They don't need to be repeated. However, there is a question I cannot avoid approaching: self-criticism.

One of the common tactics among activists who demonstrate in defence of political, social and economic change is the demonization of the upper echelons. I already put forward my critique in the case of the potential actions the UN could take in Syria: I argued that "as much as we love to ascribe to politicians qualities of an incredible demonic perversion" the reality is much more mundane. It has a lot more to do with the natural course of the relationship between politics and economics than with an intrinsic malevolence in the hearts of politicians.

We have a tendency toward considering anyone with different belief systems "evil" and considering the representatives of our ideologies "good". Even though everything would be much simpler if such binary distinctions were to be found in the real world, I am afraid that politicians and bankers are not the underlings of Satan but human beings, however much harm they do. This does not absolve them -it helps us to understand the real picture.

Unfortunately, that is not an emotionally satisfying explanation for those who embrace a dualistic morality. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter six verses eleven and twelve, Saint Paul does indeed know how to sell us a war against the "wickedness in high places":

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." -Ephesians 6:11-12, King James Bible

Even if they are actually alluding to demons and the heavens, those lines are very similar to the fanatical criticism of politicians and bankers. Moreover, the smear against the latter is usually in the companny of a pretty conspiratorial anti-Semitism, albeit not as paranoid as the delusions of many about a "Illuminati" elite controlling the world. It is a perfect system of cult mentality: if I criticise their convictions it must mean I am part of the "Illuminati" conspiracy.

This practice does not only sadden me because it shows the superstitious mentality of so many. No, my sorrow and self-criticism may be encompassed in a single question: in a world brimming with legitimate reasons to accuse our rulers and demand global change, do we really need to fall back upon demagoguery and irrational dualism?

The correct answer is "no", by the way.

(Leer la versión original: «La maldad en los lugares altos»)