The art of bullying

It is perhaps a primal instinct in all animals, to exercise control and power over the weak and the helpless. It is pretty much how the world has worked in the last few thousand years. Even among the earliest humans, it was the stronger group or tribe that dominated the physically less able, sometimes even eliminating entire communities to gain territorial control. Throughout history the annihilation of civilisations has occurred by invading marauders with superior fighting skills, not to mention a ruthlessness and greed to take what is not theirs, exploiting their victims' gullibility. Thus, the merciless elimination of indigenous peoples all over the world by looting invaders who have often come in the guise of friends or traders but ended up being the conquerors and colonisers.

But was it really because they were just more 'fit' or had superior intelligence? One can argue it was because of their extraordinary physique that made them seem like supernatural beings with supernatural powers, psychologically leaving their victims in awe and fear of them. And it was not just the clever (and lethal) devices they brought with them but also the art of cunning and bullying that they used to perfection. One can argue that this rather unsavoury combination has allowed the rich and powerful to completely control the poor and powerless. This applies to nations and individuals alike, for governments are not abstract entities – they are made of a cohesive group of people, a group that share the same ambitions, sometimes even the same prejudices. Hence the 'upholding of human rights', 'protecting the world from being blown to smithereens by the mad and uncivilised', can be used to legitimise all kinds of atrocities – genocide, occupation, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing.

So why state the obvious, you may ask? Well let's just look into what the basis of power is in the modern world. It is not necessarily better knowledge, or even what is conventionally called 'better physical appearance' that wields power although those factors certainly help to open doors and ensure a smooth path ahead. The ultimate weapon of the 21st century is the ability and desire to be a big bully.

Let's start with the ability part. In school, for instance, the bully is usually the kid who is bigger in size so he/she uses sheer physical strength to intimidate the victims – pushing heads down toilets, eating their tiffin, shoving them while passing by and of course, saying things to belittle their targets. The bully usually has a coterie of minions whose only sense of identity is based on their blind allegiance to the bully (who may have a rich and influential father), sometimes causing them to go the extra mile by independently victimising the victim on the boss's behalf. Thus you have the concept of 'hate clubs' and 'mean girls' from primary to secondary schools to even colleges. Psychologists have often alluded to a deep sense of insecurity or even inferiority complex as being the primary ingredient that induces the bully to bully – because he feels better by making other people feel small and worthless.

Which is why this predisposition may be carried onto adulthood. It is during this time the desire to be a bully reaches its zenith, for it is catalysed by insatiable greed for money and power. These bullies believe that their only source of power is through humiliating and 'neutralising' perceived opponents in any way possible. This will invariably mean unleashing their lackeys on the victims to do whatever they want and when that doesn't work, do the job themselves.

Paranoia, fuelled by whisperings of ill advisors, a blind spot as far as logic is concerned and the constant bootlicking of sycophants may morph into a quagmire of mindless hatred and megalomania. This will lead to taking recourse of any kind of falsehood that may help to humiliate and destroy the apparent thorn in the flesh.

Sadly, what is not recognised is that by listening to their opportunistic lackeys, they are in fact isolating themselves and putting themselves in grave danger. For sycophants are not friends, they are parasites - chameleons who will take on the colour of the moment and will sacrifice/devour/abandon their host for a more nutritious one. Ironically, they do not realise that the victims they choose to pulverise may well be really the only real friends they have left – for they are the only ones who will give them the good news and the bad with equal sagacity.

Meanwhile the poor, powerless victims may have to suffer extreme anguish. But if they have the courage and tenacity to prevail and only rely on the path of truth, they may come out even stronger than before. This is because people, ordinary people, eventually get tired of the fear factor. And that perhaps, is the silver lining in the cloud.

The writer is Deputy Editor, Editorial and Op-ed, The Daily Star.