Politics as a Vocation

Passage:

Whoever wants to engage in politics at all, and especially in politics as a vocation, has to realize these ethical paradoxes. He must know that he is responsible for what he may become of himself under the impact of these paradoxes. I repeat, he lets himself in for the diabolic forces lurking in all violence. The great virtuosi of acosmic love of humanity and goodness whether stemming from Nazareth or Assisi or from Indian royal castles, have not operated with the political means of violence. Their kingdom was ‘not of this world’ and yet they worked and still work in this world. The figures of Platon Karatajev and the saints of Dostoievski still remain their most adequate reconstructions. He who seeks the salvation of the soul of his own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics, for the quite different tasks of politics can only be solved by violence. The genius or demon of politics lives in an inner tension with the god of love, as well as with the Christian God as expressed by the church. This tension can at any time lead to an irreconcilable conflict. (pp. 125-26)

Interpretation:

This part of the speech by Max Weber was about the benefits of bureaucracy and how anything related with politics can’t avoid the nature of violence. He states how politics are supposed to be ethical when making decisions which benefit a country. However, this is impossible since politics always has to deal with unethical circumstances that result to the cost of people’s lives, rights, and their money. For example, if a country is threatened by another by means of military hostility, there must be action to resist this, but usually violence is the only option in cases like this. This is the irreconcilable conflict he mentions in the end of this passage. Ultimately, violence coexists with politics. No kingdom or country has survived without unethical choices that involved violence even when leaders and kings disagreed with it, but knew things had to be done. This creates the concept of doing anything necessary in the best interest for the state, regardless of how immoral the consequences may be. For example, the War in Afghanistan is an act of retribution to prevent terrorism, but it is killing innocent people, women and children, every day.  I chose this quote because I completely agree with it. Politics is faced with difficult obstacles on a daily basis, and it is hard for the world to be harmonious. Countries are always seeking more power and control, and this is what makes politics a game of violence.