TMP Online

TMP regular, Yue Ting Cheng, explores the mentality of the “gang”. 

Funny how everybody wants to be seen in the right “group”. Divisions exist in society at all levels. They begin at school, from those who wish to define themselves as being into a certain type of music/culture (mods, rockers, punks, soul boys etc), to people who support different football teams and, on a street level, gangs who operate in different “patches”.

In workplaces and organisations there are often dividing lines between factions - you’re either in, or not, and if you’re not, the writing may well be on the wall. I remember at school there were the “tough” and “cool” kids who smoked cigarettes around the oak tree at lunchtime and breaks. When we played football, after ability people would pick their mates. On day trips to the local theme park, the kids with no friends would probably be left behind and laughed and humiliated at whilst others indulged.

I have rarely felt the need to pick sides; as far as I’m concerned the “team” will often pick itself. I am weary of any group that resorts to threatening people verbally or physically for not being “compliant” with their views or wishes as it perpetuates both the gang mentality, and often shows a complete inability to build alliances or work with others.

Within party politics people give themselves or others various labels - “Lefty”, “Loyalist” “Moderate” “Right winger”. Whilst I would clearly define myself as “left”, I have come to that conclusion through rationalising and interpreting the world we live in, rather than by proximity to people who are of the “left”.

With labels comes the language of division and with division comes the gang mentality reinforced by figureheads. Leaders and politicians of all persuasions have enjoyed a strong cult of personality. In the past, murderous dictators like Hitler and Stalin had legions of loyal worshippers willing to literally murder to satisfy the musings of their “great leader”.

In a much less extreme way (though some may argue otherwise) Tony Blair had his own loyal band of followers - the Blairites - who are hated and derided by the “Bennites” of this world (whose leader, in turn, was attacked by the Blairites for almost destroying Labour in the 1980’s!). It is ironic how present and former ministers from John Prescott, Margaret Beckett, David Blunkett, Dawn Primarolo to Tony Blair himself, once supported the Bennite juggernaught of the 1980’s against the “Old right” of Healey, Hattersley etc. Now it is the Old right who are seen to the left of New Labour!

But people are fickle. They say things to go places and get rewards. Utopia may never come because people are easily influenced, often subconsciously. It was George Orwell who once described how working class people were divided by the rulers of the world in terms of nationality and region - get one group to wave a bunch of flags and another group will wave another flag in opposition; keep the people squabbling between themselves and they will never look at the real problem the ruler “puppet masters” themselves.

A friend of mine once cynically remarked how democracy only leads to mob rule (the friend is neither a Leninist or Maoist). Some have said that sometimes, what the people want, may not be what’s good for them - is there any truth in this statement? Are people, at heart, bad? The philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, argues in his book, “Leviathon”, that humans are selfish, and vengeful creatures. I’d like to think not. However given the state world affairs today, there is a dearth of evidence to counter this cynical viewpoint!

Without sounding too much like a hippie from the 1960’s, perhaps we need to take a step back, look inwards and see what we’re doing wrong. The world needs to slow down, and be more self aware. Politics is in danger of becoming a mechanical process. People are increasingly drawn to faith for this reason. Faith gives a sense of direction, of spirit and vision. The world is rapidly changing at a pace never seen before and with that comes great insecurity. People don’t like change; they are distrustful of the unknown, paranoid of the next-door neighbour or the “shifty looking kid” on the street, so we need to stop and think before we act.

The right will argue it is in a person’s interests to look after his or her own intersts first and foremost, and let the rest be. Our new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, must show us he can show greater optimism and willingness to forge wide-ranging alliances, and listen to people.

Part of the reason why Tony Blair failed to build trust and confidence is that his world view (and of those in his “gang”) is that of a pessimist - everyone from the press to the left wing in the party, the trade unions, are out to get us and cause trouble. From that a bunker mentality grew and he became isolated and distant from those he vowed to listen to at the outset. In the end he only properly consulted a small group of elitist advisers (his gang again) and handed down policy from on high. The choice for Brown is simple, be inclusive or be exclusive and only listen to your gang. Lets hope it will be the former.