Putting an end to the universal culture of bullying

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/11/2007 3:15 PM  |  Opinion

Iyan Nurmansyah, Sussex, England

The death of Cliff Muntu, a student at the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN), a civil service college, reminds us of the series of incidents involving systemic abuse that happened in previous years in the same college.

The college may have changed its name from the School of Public Administration (STPDN), but it seems the bullying culture is so deeply rooted that it is difficult to eradicate.

Bullying can be involve either physical or verbal abuse, or a combination of the two, and is carried out by the powerful against the powerless. The relational mode of bullying is always a ""zero-sum game"", in which one side has power, while the other has none. One gains satisfaction, while the other is humiliated, insulted, and violated physically or mentally.

Many countries classify bullying as antisocial behavior. In these countries, it is common to encounter anti-bullying campaign materials in schools, offices, on the street and in religious centers. Even on public transportation, such as buses, we often see small posters showing children holding hands, with slogans such as ""Say No To Bullying"". These kinds of campaigns to raise public awareness are due to the fact that bullying can happen to anybody, anywhere and at anytime.

For instance, Britain's chancellor, Gordon Brown, recently made an apology to the Indian people during a visit to India for the alleged racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. Three British celebrities (Jade Goody, a member of S Club 7, Jo O'Meara, and former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd) allegedly bullied Shetty on the reality TV show Big Brother on TV's channel 4.

In one program that was broadcast nationally, we could see that even a top Bollywood celebrity such as Shetty could come under tremendous pressure, apparently falling victim to bullying.

Embarrassed that his country might be said to condone bullying, Prime Minister Tony Blair met Shetty and apologized to her for her difficult experiences during her time in the UK. As if an apology from the Prime Minister were not enough, Queen Elizabeth also met Shetty, and together they pronounced the importance of tolerance in society.

Some cynical commentators say that the willingness of world figures such as the queen and Blair to apologize and to ""lower"" themselves to the level of an Indian celebrity is nothing more than political correctness. However, what is important here is that their willingness to apologize should be seen as a symbol of the fight against bullying. They do not want violent behavior to be part of their culture.

Allowing the culture of bullying to flourish means we are willing to accept an authoritarian culture. We can imagine what can happen when someone who occupies a position of power or of wealth uses bullying as a method of subjugating those who are weaker or different. Moreover, bullying and authoritarianism are linked to the culture of corruption. As long as you have money and power, you can get what you want and you can buy anybody.

In the case of IPDN, what is so sad is the fact that IPDN is an institution that exists to train those who will run the bureaucracy and serve the public. Another distressing fact is that physical abuse resulting in death has happened on numerous occasions.

Expelling the students found responsible for the abuse will never get to the root of the problem. In 2003, it was Wahyu Hidayat who was the victim; last week it was Cliff Muntu, and there will probably be more victims unless urgent reforms are instituted.

Indeed, the expulsion of the students involved will only provide impunity for the institute and those running it. Expulsion is a form of bullying in itself. Through expulsions, an institution, which holds the power, is performing its role in a zero-sum game by dismissing powerless students. Hence, the institution eradicates bullying through an act of bullying. No wonder that the bullying culture at IPDN remains intact, despite the fact that it has changed its name.

What is needed if the culture of bullying is to be eradicated is a recognition in society that bullying is a shameful and disgraceful act. This is not only about IPDN, but also all institutions in our society, be they schools, government offices or private institutions. Throughout society, we must get the message across that all forms of bullying are totally unacceptable.

What is important is to inculcate an awareness that a culture of bullying will only serve to produce a generation of authoritarian, corrupt and self-indulging autocrats.

The writer is pursuing his master's degree in international relations at the University of Sussex, England.

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