GEORG Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, one of the great political scientists, came up with the idea of dialectics through which he illuminated the point that what is real is actual, and what is actual is real. People reap what they sow. To propagate the idea, he theorised a three-step process. A thesis leads to its reaction; an antithesis contradicts or negates the thesis; and the tension between the two is resolved by a synthesis. The idea seems reliable and relevant in the context of our political dispensation.

Our politicians practically distance themselves from actually democratic politics. They get an autocratic party leadership. But, in the end, they are all deposed from their positions for being undemocratic. This is the thesis-antithesis-synthesis journey of the political class. This scenario has remained prevalent for a long time. In fact, it has been there since the country became an independent state.

As such, if the politicians somehow get to understand the idea of Hegelian dialectics, they will hardly commit political mistakes, like indulging in political victimisation of their rivals, and engage with other political leaders as well as parties for common ground. In doing so, they will definitely generate political harmony in the country. It is worth a try.

Ausaf Hyder Sial
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024