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Maybe it is the water, maybe it is the sun, maybe it is the food, and maybe it is the education system and just maybe it is the culture. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that the land of many egos and is filled with leaders who possess an undying penchant for control freak-ism. In this, snowflakes and men with feeble egos are easily moved by the suspicion of a threat to their perceived dominance of all things under God’s sun. As a consequence, loyalty becomes more valuable than qualifications and merit and Guyanese suffer from a crisis in leadership at all levels by being subjected to mediocrity, while the competent ones languish in the wilderness because they refuse to kiss the ring.
THE MINDSET OF THE MAXIM LEADER
The maxim leader cannot withstand criticism. Any hint of a challenge affects his/her confidence and produces hurt beyond repair and the result is a determination to seek revenge against those who scrutinize their decisions, even if those are constructive and are for the greater good. This weakness in their character handicaps their ability to effectively lead because it results in the selection of a team based on complete submission and not competency. This is usually so because there is a constant need for adulation and admiration which comes in the form of obsequious utterances in the echo chamber.
I have not seen much literature on the psychology of dictators but when I encountered what is available, I have noted that observers have agreed that they all share one key characteristic: narcissism. Most notably, James Fallon Ph.D., ‘Mind of a Dictator’ in which he notes: ‘I have analyzed the traits of many modern-day dictators and have identified commonalities with classic psychopaths. Libya’s Muammar al-Gaddafi, for example, is paranoid, narcissistic, power-hungry, and vain. Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko is among the world’s most dangerous dictators; he actively attacks his opposition-a clear sign of malignant psychopathic megalomania that is almost impossible to satisfy’.
THE MAXIM LEADER CULTURE IN THE GUYANA CONTEXT
Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham shall forever remain towering historical figures in the annals of Guyana’s history and their contributions will be with us for a long time. However, there is enough to conclude that their legacies in the realm of politics and leadership have left the specter of maxim leader culture continuously hovering over the body politic. Perhaps, the grip these leaders had on their parties never gave succor to dissent or challenge and culture persisted after their deaths.
Just in case you are thinking this is some run of the mill political diatribe aiming for the government or one political divide, let me disabuse that notion with dispatch. The aforementioned phenomenon is in existence wherever leadership manifests in Guyana, from the church to the classroom, from political parties to the state apparatus. This is so because those who are saddled with fragile egos are constantly in search of maximum control so they remain heavily fortified from critique or challenges in service of protecting their absolute power.
