Contemplating power

(Nimue)

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It’s a popular thought, and one I entirely disagree with. The primary effect of this kind of idea is to make well meaning people think that they should not seek power, and to doubt their own goodness if they do.

Corrupt people seek power to further their own ends. Corrupt people use power in corrupt ways. We can be powerful without being problematic. Having power does not make it inevitable that you will abuse that power. Even if you are tempted, it’s possible not to succumb. We can be better than that. We can have easy opportunities to exploit and harm for our own benefit, and refuse to do it.

Being powerful isn’t just about having power over others. Courage is a powerful thing. Lifting and encouraging other people is a power move. Acting to protect others requires standing in your own power. We can use what power we have to tackle injustice, to be restorative, and to heal. These things all require having and using power.

While we are persuaded that power itself is a bad thing, we won’t step into those spaces or take on those roles. If leadership is only for the cruel and corrupt, nothing is going to play out well. We need power that is rooted in compassion and a desire for peace and justice.

It’s worth considering the everyday opportunities we have to be powerful for each other, and what we might achieve on those terms.