For Aristotle the
purpose of politics was to foster the achieving of the good life. He asserted that people who were the best at identifying
the common good and should have the greatest share of political recognition and
influence. Obviously, the meaning of the
good life can be really questionable. But if we leave the meaning aside, we
can learn something from of the Aristotle’s statement.
In democratic
societies political leaders are elected through eventual elections where people
show their preferences. So, the wish of the majority is often the result. But
the policymakers who are elected are far away from being the best at
identifying the common good insofar as their behavior is many times, if not always,
motivated by winning the next elections not by doing the right things. Sure
they can be the same thing, but it does not always happen. So, it is often
better to be populist than realist. This is plausible because people do not usually
like to stop ‘the party’. In this
way, the Aristotle’s assertion about who should shape the political agenda
could shed light to solving the bad behavior of policymakers. This would mean
some people would have more power and influence than others.
Thus, this
sentence ‘This would mean some people would
have more power than others’ brings to my mind Europe, especially Eurozone. The reason seems to be clear:
the bad behavior of southern countries leads to core countries trying to assume
control to achieve the common good. Therefore, the purpose of politics as Aristotle
asserted is fulfilled because untroubled countries should be the best at
identifying the common good and therefore they should have the greatest share
of political power. If we just see this side of the coin the current situation
seems to be right to solve the problems. However, what does it happen if a
share of the troubles of the southern countries is influenced by the reckless
behavior of core countries? Is it correct that untroubled countries assume
control?
There cannot
be on single answer because it is not really clear who is guilty of the current
situation in the Eurozone. But, there is something that we must take into
account. Far beyond guilty or innocent, right or wrong, Europe is being leaded
by political leaders who were not elected by European people as a whole and
this must be our true concern by far because despite their deficiencies,
democracies rely on the choice of their individuals not in the assumptions
about their preferences.
So, the
Eurozone needs to rethink its political system to achieve a way in which the
current decisions to solve the problems depend on the desires of the people who
are suffering those problems. So, can Europe
learn something from this statement? Of course, it can.
Knowing what
the common good is implies knowing which people who will be affected by it and
what they want. And then, to be able to
choose those ones who are better to meet the common goals.
