The Unexpected Lesson Politics Taught Me About My Career Goals

Morality is a Choice and not a norm in politics.

The concept of "morality" often conjures up the idea of an objective standard of right and wrong. However, the relationship between morality and decision-making is more complex in political science. While morality may guide some individuals' actions, it is not always a universally accepted norm or a clear-cut path to making ethical decisions. It's more like a choice of the decision maker and stakeholders. Mine and fellow students' experience studying International Relations have come to a similar realization. 

In politics, whether at a global or local level, choices and decisions are often influenced by various factors, such as personal beliefs, cultural values, and, most importantly, strategic considerations. While moral principles may be a factor, they are not always the only or most important consideration in political decision-making.

When we started our first semester in International Relations, we were all filled with excitement and enthusiasm. We wanted to impact the world positively and were convinced that our idealistic solutions could bring about lasting peace and justice. Many of us saw morality and ethics as the key to solving the world's problems, and we were eager to put our beliefs into action.

However, as we progressed through our studies, we realized that the reality of international relations was much more complex than we had initially thought. We discovered that there were no simple solutions to the world's problems and that managing international relations was a delicate balancing act. Our orientation classes emphasized this point, and as we gained more knowledge and experience, we came to appreciate the complexity of the field.

While our idealism and moral convictions remained vital to us, we began to understand that international relations involved many competing interests and perspectives. We learned that effective management requires a deep understanding of history, culture, economics, and politics and an ability to navigate complex power dynamics. Our initial excitement had been tempered by a newfound appreciation for the field's challenges. 

Throughout my academic journey in International Relations, I have encountered several subjects that have profoundly shaped my understanding of the field. Dimensions of Modern Strategy, Critical Security Studies, Diplomacy, and Emerging Threats to International Security are particularly influential. One concept that has captured my attention and fascination is perception management, which is a common theme across these subjects.

During my tenure as Member Youth Parliament and Chairperson Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs

Perception management is how individuals and organizations select, organize, and interpret sensory input to make sense of the world around them. In political science, this technique is often used to analyze and make decisions that minimize damage to international relations while maintaining stability.

As I progressed in my studies, I realized that while my initial impulse was to solve the world's problems, more seasoned experts tended to approach issues through perception management. They recognized that there were no easy solutions and that preserving the status quo often required careful management of perceptions and the ability to navigate complex power dynamics.

As I began to network with industry professionals, I discovered that my perspective on problem-solving was only sometimes aligned with theirs. Instead, discussions often centred around the perception of threats and the need to safeguard national security. It became clear that the work of many professionals in the field was funded by dollars invested in fighting perceived threats and that the existence of these threats was often necessary to justify their continued employment.

One senior colleague said, "If there were no conflicts in the world, what would we work on to solve? We would be jobless, and there should be problems." This realization added complexity to my understanding of international relations and underscored the importance of perception management in shaping the world around us.

Realizing that morality is not a norm, but a career choice was eye-opening. After graduating, I was approached by personnel in functional politics who thought I would make a great fit as a 'politician' due to my critical understanding of perception management and communication skills. However, this was never my plan, and I politely declined the offer. This experience made it clear that the perception of politics and those studying it is complex.

Although you may be lured into "saving the world" through politics, once you're in the system, tough decisions often require you to put morality on the side. You realize you're not there to make things work but to make them bearable. It's a challenging career that requires numerous moral and otherwise sacrifices to run countries and maintain peace.

This raises a fascinating question about the role of perception in our lives. Are we victims of our perceptions, or can we change them? In a world of globalization and technology, we often have difficult-to-digest knowledge that can leave us mentally constipated. Our brains are influenced by what we want to see or what we're forced to see.

After understanding the core of the business and visualizing my career as a political scientist, I decided not to over-indulge in it. Instead, I chose to work on the administrative and operational side of things. The world is complex, and while I sometimes think about the stable opportunities presented to me after graduating with a master's in IR, the creative, curious worm in me is still in a juvenile state of understanding morality. So far, I have upheld that value for as long as it lasts. 

This blog post is not to discourage anyone who wants to be in the career but my account of why it isn’t my career goal.