OPINION: Politics and The Concept of the greater Good

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By- Charlesworth C. M. Tabor, Attorney-at-Law

I am moved to write this article because from time to time I have heard the leaders of political parties and sometimes their supporters talk about the greater good. I have also heard the term the “bigger picture” used by members of the United Ptogresseive Party (UPP) but my preference is always for the more philosophical term the “greater good”. Now, what is the concept of the greater good and why is it important in political discourse?

The concept of the greater good is rooted in the philosophical writings of the English philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill and is associated with the school of philosophy called Utilitarianism. It is a moral and philosophical concept. Basically, the thesis that utilitarianism advances is that “the best action is one that maximizes overall well-being or happiness for the greatest number of people.”

With respect to the definition of politics, it is the establishment of rules and regulations that govern a State. In essence, it is the process through which the State organizes itself, manages and allocates resources with the fundamental objective of improving the well-being of its citizens. In terms of Utilitarianism, this objective should be to provide the greatest good to the greatest number. It is an objective that is very difficult to achieve, but is one that all governments must strive to accomplish. In the words of Otto von Bismarck which, are quite instructive “ politics is the art of the possible, the attainable – the art of the next best.” The role of government, therefore, is to do the best for its citizens.

Having given a definition of politics and the concept of the greater good, I will now try to apply this to the developments within the UPP since its Covention in April, 2024. The objective and raison d’etre of the UPP, like any other Political Party, is to win State power in order to advance the concept of the greater good and improve the well-being of the majority of the people in the State. While I would wish to say improving the well-being of everyone in the State, I know that that would be a rather utopian view.    

In the competitive nature of electoral politics, the first objective of any Political Party is to win an election and become government since much cannot be accomplished in Opposition. The winning of an election can also be characterized as a greater good for a party since that is a prerequisite and sine qua non in order to be able to implement its policies and programmes for the ultimate greater good for the well-being of the majority of the people in the State. It is in that narrow context, therefore, that is to say the winning of an election, that I am using the concept of the greater good in this article as opposed to the greater good implicit in philosophy of Utilitarianism. And it is incumbent on a Political Party to put whatever mechanisms, modalities and structures in place to win.     

The million dollar question that would arise now is how to determine the greater good in the context of a Political Party to faciliiate its success in a general election. In the case of the UPP, it is argued by its leadership and many supporters that the Convention has answered that question with the democratic election of its leader. However, it should be noted that being democratically elected per se while politically legitimate, might not be strategically advantageous since it does not necessarily translate into the Party’s wider electoral appeal and success.       

I  posit, therefore, that a Political Party in strategizing to win State power must be bold and pragmatic and look at a multifaceted approach in determining the leader that is best suited to take the Party to political success and not rely solely on emotionalism and on the basis of the result of a democratic leadership election. There are many cases where a Party leader who has been elected in a landslide by his Party, has gone on to suffer a massive electoral defeat in a general election as a result of the lack of national appeal for the leader. An example of the latter was the massive defeat of the Jeremy Corbyn led Labour Party in the United Kingdom in the 2019 general election. A Party should therefore be pragmatic in looking at the greater good. A Party should not be swayed by the views of some in its leadership with rampant personal self-interest who are aligned with a particular person. Such views are invariably antithetical to the greater good of the Party.

I will end by saying that Harold Lovell’s premature resignation of the leadership of the UPP and subsequent retirement from politics after the 2023 general elections was not conducive to the Partys’s greater good and similarly Jamale Pringle’s election as leader of the Party might not have been conducive to the geater good (albeit he was allegedly elected democratically) since polls have shown that Richard Lewis had greater national appeal. While we do not have a Presidential System of election, leadership does matter and even in our Parliamentary System of election the strength of the leader can impact voting. A bold and pragmatic Party with its focus on the immediate greater good i.e., winning the next general elections perhaps would have taken the results of such polls into account and make the necessary leadership change. Such an action would make the saying by Niccolo Machiavelli that “the end justifies the means” rather appropriate. In any case, we will just have to await the outcome of the next general elections to see if the current view of the greater good by the leadership of the Party prevails.    

This issue that I have raised will certainly be food for thought and perhaps the focus of academic enquiry for students of the politics of Antigua and Barbuda in the future.     

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17 COMMENTS

  1. Well written Charles tabor, such indebt analysis, but hope the ANR paper don’t run with it on the premise of balkanization withing the UPP camp since competitive politics can be internal to an organization too.
    The internal political turmoil cause by politics of emotionalism or identity has already caused such balkanization that Richard Lewis is hard to be seen as appealing in the camp.
    But the institutional knowledge that Harold Lovell brings is a breath of fresh air and has already lift the supporters morale. Also I have always contended that Alister Thomas who has such institutional capacity should be adviser and strategist for whoever in leadership instead a running for election, he holds the historical empirical analysis of events to guide the party especially against a new young ALP party under new leadership.

  3. This is the first volley of shots fired in favour of Harold Lovell’s return to the leadership of the UPP. The second volley will be fired by Brixtonian. Bring it on guys, the ABLP will remain in power for five more years.

  4. This greater good of which you speak is far fetched by this UPP party. UPP has been a divided party since the Joanne Massiah issue then debacle, we now have the return of Mr Lovell which now leads to further division simple because of his past record not only as a leader but as a minister of government.We will now find most UPP hard core faithful clinging to Mr Lovell hoping he could restore normalcy to the mess he himself first started, while on the other hand majority will continue to stand on the side of their present leader MP Pringle who continues to win his seat in every election, but the division further continue with a high percentage of members who views Mr Lewis as an outstanding, young, intelligent politician and Member of Parliament, truly ideal and looked upon as the rightful leader of the UPP. After calculating what’s the end result?

  5. @Carvaa

    Why don’t you keep your opinion to yourself and go and advise the ‘un-divided’ ABLP party who on the surface appears united but which is far from. Have you guys forgotten the bitter fighting between Lester, John E St Luce, Gaston, Asot and Lester? It always appear as if the party is so united because they are ruling.
    Please CARVAA beg dem to call the long awaited convention.

  6. @ Hazel Roberts,
    The underlying issue to the central theme is the bogus re-election of Pringle as UPP leader.

    The internal political turmoil cause by politics of emotionalism or identity. It was caused by selfish people pushing for their own political selfishness and self interests.

    Once they got the election results they wanted. They coined the phase “Pringle is the fully elected leader” which serves to close down any discussion of who is most suitable to lead the UPP to a successful general election.
    That’s why Tabor wrote “allegedly democratically elected”.
    For those of us who follow UPP machinations, we are well aware it was a fraudulent election perpetuated by selfish people. Some of whom do not live in Antigua or Barbuda but hope for an ambassador’s job that pays for them being driven around the Beltway in a SUV.

  7. Everyone can write a long winded article about politics and politicians, in the meantime disregarding the facts that politicians are in office to fix things.

    In fact, where is the long winded articles to Gatson Browne as to how he can fix the terrible crime problem in Antigua right now? Where are all long winded articles about how Gatson Browne to fix the broken immigration system and justice system?

    In fact there is no long winded article that’s needed, what we need is action, and this current administration has no clue. The people are under this terrible crime problem right now, and we are here talking about pure speculations.

    Gatson Browne has failed his people..he allowed Antigua to become what it is today, plain and simple.

  8. In politics individuals who are political operatives or party activists and or leaders explain their motivations for their actions as in this case.

    This is neither abstract or conspiratorial. What was the substantial reasons why Pringle was elected UPP leader over Richard Lewis.

    Until these activities and political operatives step forward and publicly voice their reasons for supporting Pringle; history will remember them as selfish cowards.

  10. Wait! Hold up! You mean even after well over a year that there are still some SORE LOSERS refusing to accept the Convention Results????

    Wow! And then they have the nerve to complain about the “greater good”

  11. @ Carvaa
    Gaston would win if they had the convention they are afraid of him, because he would destroy them he is that vindictive. Chet is more than capable but he is a coward, I think he once said he is not interested once Gaston is leader, that’s because he knows the man inside out

  12. @ Gisele say NO JAMAICAN First Lady for UPP or Antigua I believe what the writer of the article is trying to say is that unless the UPP Party gets a strong and competent leader in place the Party cannot win the next general elections. Harold Lovell is a much better leader than Pringle that is why they came so close to winning in 2023. Now even Richard Lewis would be a better leader to fight Gaston in an election than Pringle. Pringle cannot take the Party over the winning line and the problem for the UPP is that simple.

  13. The Labour Party assassins are fulminating at the mouth again, UPP business is driving them out of their minds, yet they do not even have time to notice the nation is heading Bird speed to nowhere under Gaston’s watch. Crime has never been so high in our history, any one of us could be the next victim and they couldn’t give a damn. Politics is what drives them

  14. If only political institutions, churches, schools, and even private sector businesses and all individuals in neighbourhoods, families etc. in this country and around the world really operated in ways that seek the greater good, what a wonderful world it would be. Unfortunately they no longer do, which is why there is so much turmoil and pain in the world today. Individuals and groups seek only to control others for their own gain. Some countries e.g. Scandinavian countries do prioritize the greater good in some areas such as politics (fair tax system with obvious benefits to the public) and education (good treatment of both teachers and students) and hence do well, scoring high in happiness in those areas. However, they fall a bit short in religion. So, they are not completely fulfilled as evidenced by high levels of drinking etc. Here we fall short in all areas. Politics is improving a little as we are starting to see some development and community work that matches the taxation levels. Education needs to work harder on treating educators correctly while also actually catering to the needs of students following proper scientific child development and brain cognition and learning psychology realities not just unfounded theories. Churches need to stop listening to misinformation about members and being judgemental based on misinformation but instead work towards creating actual communities of peace and love. Private sector workers need to lose the negative attitudes and manipulative behaviours and get back to trying to provide a useful service to members of the general public. Neighbours need to get back to taking others into consideration not just blasting music randomly etc. We all need to stop being selfish control freaks, trying to use others for our own benefit, but instead act in the best interests of all (or as many as possible as the writer states) even while we prioritize our own well-being and that of of family. We need to act for the greater good.

  15. Mr or Mrs D’Onally (by the way, thanks for the heads-up 👍🏾), ABLP supporters like yourself do make me smile. You’ve had a 11 year run under the misguided leadership of Gaston Browne, and you all still decry having a strong opposition party for the country. Why so?

    Ever since the return of the Most Honourable Harold Lovell to the UPP’s fold, I’ve lost count of the amount of criticism against him by the obviously troubled ABLP – who would love a one-party state.

    However, for a vibrant democracy to work and flourish here in Antigua, we must have a strong opposition, or the country will slip into the dictatorship that Gaston Browne obviously wants – hence the poaching and “perceived” financial incentives of former UPP members over recent times.

    Harold Lovell can atest more than anyone else and can see what Gaston Browne and his party are up to; and whilst in the meantime Chet ‘Wannabe Leader’ Green has to stay quiet on his own push to become party leader, but has joined Browne – as expected – in trying his utmost best to denigrate Mr Lovell’s return. How pathetic!

    I now look forward to more of the ABLP’s long, tedious and scolding JOBATION …

    Have a great day D’Onally 👍🏾

  16. @ If only,
    I was reading your comment with interest until you got to:
    “they fall a bit short in religion. So, they are not completely fulfilled as evidenced by high levels of drinking etc.” that statement is a telling indicator of your narrow mentality.

    And then you went further to say “ Politics is improving a little as we are starting to see some development and community work that matches the taxation levels”
    Are you kidding me? A haphazard road repair that will certainly disintegrate in a few years. That’s what you define as improving politics?
    It’s time for the secondary schools to start teaching courses in politics, history, and political science so that individuals like yourself is not confused about politics and good governance.

    If only this country had less miseducated people like yourself we would be better off.

  17. @ If Only,
    If you were better informed; you would know of the prominent case involving late-night dancing at a private party, where a high-ranking politician in the EU. That of Sanna Marin, the former Prime Minister of Finland which created a global scandal. Just dancing around at a private local party. This led to her the political party loosing the next election. She too lost and was forced out of politics.

    Our PM Gaston Browne wine-up and wink-up publicly on his wife and the mother of his children. A public display for the world to see.
    I have not heard shit from any religious leader. Instead they go to cabinet and pray over his misdeeds in cabinet.

    At the end of the day Gaston Browne is a master of Caribbean type politics. A type politics that’s practiced in Africa and many other places.

    It’s a politics of greed and aggrandizement. Many aspects of it are remnants of colonial times.

    While Mr. Tabor makes a case for “the greater good” with regards to the UPP leadership; the greater good is not endemic or even part of any aspect of our culture.

    It is a social and cultural concept that has to be inculcated from infancy.
    Where there is a greater good in a country or community, most times that moral compass is held by Civil Society and the religious community who are in bed either everything that’s wrong with this country
    The Scandinavians may not go to church but they live a more satisfying lifestyle and happy lives. I’ll take that any day.

    They are like clowns in my eyes. They are having a prayercade and pray-drive. Think about that.

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