What is the most defining element of a state? It is the ability to practice diplomacy. Diplomacy has been practiced since the formation of the first city-states.
Over time, politics became easy to enter, but very hard to negotiate the newer climates within. The complexities keep things murky even today.
Our present-day politics is one of intolerance and extremism, resulting in the loss of people’s confidence. People take upon themselves the responsibility of upholding whatever democratic rights they can. They raise their voices in rallies, and cast their ballots to try and bring about the changes that they desire.
While politicians are in huge supply, good statesmen remain scarce. Bangladesh is in dire need of good statesmen. Some statements by ministers and top-ranking leaders have raised a few questions about their intellect.
After the January 5 polls this year, the prime minister, her cabinet, and party colleagues have been on a non-compromising track and, to some extent, are towing hardline policies on almost all matters.
Journalists and pundits get together at various forums, analysing the statements of ministers and others who are waxing or waning in popularity.
A few of our ministers keep embarrassing us either by prejudiced remarks, hurting sentiments, or by smoking and singing in unmelodious tunes. And a few even come up with blistering comments with potentially serious, global consequences.
Syed Ashraful Islam, the minister for LGRD and secretary general of the ruling party, expressed his feelings about some foreign delegates in a manner that could have been avoided. He could have used softer, more diplomatic words while still criticising their stand regarding certain issues.
His comments hit the headlines and soon became the hardest-hitting advertisement of the government’s hardline attitude towards the US.
The whole thing often seems more like a “big bashing” sideshow.
Serious-minded citizens suggest that the PM needs those ministers who could kill the snake by not breaking the stick. The prime minister had to defend Ashraf’s comments on the US. She argued that Bangladesh should not be dependent on any single country. That is indeed a very good way of thinking.
The Indian influence should also be taken into serious consideration by her. Her desire to come out of the one-state domination is praiseworthy. That’s what Bangladesh needs. We need powerful minds and progressive statespersons to steer our nation out of the identity crisis – leaders who will teach us morality and diplomacy to achieve victory in all sectors.
They should raise the nation to new heights through their witty and sober maneuvers, earn the respect and fear of the global community through their gentle but meaningful rhetoric.
Opinions will differ on the significant and pressing question of who and what will determine the right person for these jobs. American professor Dr J Rufus Fears – who teaches “the history of freedom” – believes that a politician and a statesman are not the same thing. According to Fears, a statesman is not a tyrant; he is the free leader of a free people.
He points out that a statesperson must possess four critical qualities: A bedrock of principles, a moral compass, a vision, and the ability to build a consensus to achieve that vision. Instead of exploring in greater depth, we can examine our leaders on these scales.
We have seldom witnessed our leaders being the “bedrock of principles.” They could not build themselves a platform on a foundation of firm, unchanging, fundamental truths. Thus they were always aloof from the core, overarching philosophy.
Our leaders leave behind the simple truth, that is, even if everything changes with the times, the foundation upon which we must stand and brave all adversities remains.
Morality is another factor for a leader at work. His reading capability of the public mood is important. An absolute wrong or absolute right cannot be the yardstick for measuring the need of the hour. He has to be a moral judge, and the decider in the trickiest of times. Public mood may be deceptive at times. So he has to act on his moral capacity and wisdom.
A statesman is expected to have a clear vision of what his country and his people can become. He ought to know where he wants to take them, and what it will take to get there.
Our PM has the prospect of becoming one such enviable statesperson of the region. She can tell her people and the world about what the future generations will inherit.
So far, what we have witnessed has been poor. The way our ministers and politicians (non-political actors also) air their views has only managed to tarnish the image of the country’s politics and the quality of the state administration.
Hardline policies and independent thoughts are not same. Socio-political parameters will determine how “hard” the state must act and with whom. Most importantly, no matter how visionary and moral a leader is, these will not matter if he cannot build the consensus around his thoughts and vision.
Perhaps our leaders forgot to look back and read about Pericles of Athens, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill.