Ideological Mercenaries: A Threat to Genuine Political Discourse
Ideological mercenaries harm political discourse, lacking genuine conviction and promoting shallow tribalism.
More and more I have come to identify what I dub ‘Ideological mercenaries’. These are individuals who switch their political allegiances with ease, depending on which political tribe they believe will benefit them the most. They are driven by a desire to be on the — perceived — winning side, rather than due to any genuine affinity for the underlying values. This type of behaviour is becoming increasingly common in today's political landscape, and it is having a deleterious effect on genuine political discourse.
The problem with ideological mercenaries is that they lack the depth of understanding of the political beliefs and values they try to convince the viewer they have. They have no real sense of what they stand for, other than the inauthentic opportunity posted to their trade that comes from tribal conflict. They are only concerned with which side is winning, and they will align themselves with whoever they believe will give them the most advantage. This means that they have no real investment in the outcome of any political debate, and they believe firmly in a “ends justify the means” mentality regardless of the consequences beyond for the tribe.
This lack of authenticity wreaks havoc on genuine political discourse which could genuinely bring about understanding and compromise. Ideological mercenaries lack the ability to engage in meaningful discussions about the issues that matter most to our society. Instead, they are content to simply repeat the talking points of their tribe, without bothering to understand the underlying issues. This leads to a shallow and superficial debate, which fails to address the real problems facing our society. Their very existence is predicated on the need to stimulate and feed conflict.
When individuals are seen to switch their allegiances based on personal gain, rather than genuinely resonating with the foundational beliefs and values of the tribe, it undermines the real efforts those committed to their values do on behalf of their tribe. This can lead to cynicism and sees the achievements won by groups destroyed and set back years.
Ideological mercenaries who move from one political tribe to another are detrimental to our political discourse. They lack any real values and underlying beliefs and are only interested in what is best for them in the short term. This has resulted in a shallow and superficial environment that diverts attention and intentionally encourages distractions in an attempt to prolong the conflict to maximise befits to their own agenda. We must reject this type of behaviour and promote a political culture that values depth of understanding, critical thinking, and genuine conviction over shallow tribalism.
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Kieran White is a multimedia journalist with a passion for exploring cultural issues from a socio-political perspective. He understands the challenges that come with being a creative individual in today's world, and he's committed to helping others find the support and resources they need to succeed.
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