Social engineering, of the human interaction kind rather than of Government policy, is like chess. The simpleton amongst us might call such things "mind games" but the sophisticated person knows that actually, what it is all about, is manoeuvring someone into acting in a particular way.
Like the chess player, the social engineer does things, and in terms of politics, tends to say things, with an express intent and knowledge of what will happen next. Sometimes, when the chess player knows the end is Nye for him he will draw his opponent away from bringing about the end to quickly, and he does it by attempting to manoeuvre his opponent into other lines of earlier attack.
I say this simply because, as I read the papers today, it seems to me that a master of human social engineering has done it again. After all, can you think of a better way to dominate the news agenda and make them all write about a topic you want them too than to have a pop at the news men themselves?
Blair is after all in a very unique and rare position. Here is a Prime Minister that will have two official days of political obituaries. When he officially announced he would step down his obituaries were duly printed the next day. Shortly they will be written again, and he has the foreknowledge of what they will likely be.
Spin, news management, sleaze, the debasement of politics, Iraq, dodgy dossiers, David Kelly, etc etc, basically the works. All of it done again in pull-out and keep specials. What better then than to give a long speech saying that the media - the feral hoards that they are - are the real problem when it comes to such things as a breakdown in trust because of their cynicism? To sew the seeds of doubt in the minds of the populace about the forthcoming final analysis on June 27th?
What's more - and this is the real clever bit - to do it in such a way that the media have two choices. They can either defend themselves and blame the politicians using all the things that Blair says are encouraging cynicism, thus providing him with the ability to say "see I was right". Or they can say "hang on a minute, you're just saying this so we'll write about it tomorrow", and give him the same response again?
I can't stand virtually any of the policies that the man has put in place. But I have to respect his final moves on the chessboard. Or perhaps I'm just a feral cynic?
6 comments:
Assailing the media is standard Endgame theory when you are in a weak position.
But will the gambit pay off?
I suggest the media use their passed-pawn on the queen-side and go for the jugular with "It's the politician's fault".
"see I was right" would be a weak reply, fooling nobody.
You could also see it as a veiled threat to introduce regulation for the internet. There seems to be a concerted effort by the usual suspects of late to say a few words about this subject. Methinks something is brewing.
"Can't stand" Dizzy? Are you leaving us? Or is this GFO as the Docs scribble?
"in pull-out and keep specials" on Tony Blair ?
More likely pull out and bin while still on the newsagent's premises !
I honestly cannot think of a single thing about Tony Bleaugh that does not make me retch.
Alan Douglas
Sounds plausible to me. The Guardian comment pages for one were (if you'll pardon the expression) full of it today.
I don't agree. I think it reeks of desperation. He has realised he's actually going and everyone's rejoicing. They're hanging out the bunting for the street parties.
This is the last gambit of a desperate man. "It's not my fault!" he whines. "It was the press. They didn't play fair with me. They were meeeeeeeean! It's nothing to do with me and my fascist, vicious policies and my government by leaks! The media presented it all wrong! You don't understaaaaaaaaand!
"I am not pleading for myself. I am merely saying for the sake of the next prime minister ... we need to shut the media down ... errr, make them be more responsible. More accountable to politicians. Maybe we should licence them! That way, everyone would know they had been approved by the government and weren't out to make problems.
"Internet journalism and blogs are contrary to the national interest. Surely you can see that? Can't you?"
I definitely do not see him playing a clever endgame, Dizzy. However, it gives rise to an interesting thought ... someone may be playing a clever endgame, forcing him to make these moves ...
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