THE DECLINE OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

In this post-satire political landscape, the British Prime Minister quit because he didn’t want Brexit, the two most vocal Brexiteers have decided not to continue on either, and everyone is up in arms about why the Leader of the Opposition won’t quit as well. Remember when taking responsibility for one’s actions was part of the job description of politicians – particularly prime ministers? Cameron, Farage and Johnson collectively crafted one of the most tumultuous weeks in the history of modern British politics. Every one of them is responsible for the uncertain future the UK now faces and we’re watching them remove themselves from positions of responsibility, one by one. 

Whether one likes it or not, the political process affects everybody in a given society. Indeed, politics can be regarded not only as a public activity, but also as a form of public discourse through which the public space is organised and with whose assistance the public decides (at least in theory) on a rational course for its future. Because political decisions affect the lives of many people, and because politics is an expression of power, we naturally raise our expectations of politicians, and expect them to be responsible.

The “individual responsibility” of politicians is closely tied to the notion of “political responsibility.” However, it is necessary to distinguish between these two notions. Unlike the individual responsibility of a politician for a particular act, the concept of “political responsibility” has a far more general dimension. The latter can have different interpretations, depending on the society in which it is applied, since the interpretation of “political responsibility” is closely tied to just how a given society views the concept of politics. Particularly important is whether the public believes that morality belongs in politics.

In societies where the technocratic concept of the politician prevails, the concept of “political responsibility” is more closely tied to the notion of individual accountability than anything else. In such a morally “neutral” stage, political responsibility is often reduced to a simple tactic: the politician must be careful to avoid certain mistakes and pitfalls, and to avoid damaging not only his or her career, but also their political party.

Political leaders (elites in the positive sense of the word) were once people with a vision, of which they were the personal guarantors. This brand of accountability could only come from a sense of individual moral integrity and the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions, often in the face of public opposition. In modern times, such a leader is gradually disappearing.