One of the most punishing books I have had to read is Michael Mann’s “The Sources of Social Power”. The book is thicker than the Bible and has 2 volumes. I never knew how much that book would mean to me until recently as Mann’s philosophy is clear cut.
I will spare you the gory details of the book and cut to the chase. He identifies 4 sources of social power, affectionately called the IEMP model:
I – Ideological
E – Economic
M – Military
P – Political
It is through these 4 sources that social power is attainable, according to Mann. As I said, I will spare you the details or else you may fall asleep. What is interesting is that Mann claims that of all the sources of social power, the Ideological is the most important. Once the ideology is controlled, then all other sources of social power will be realised.
When Portia Simpson Miller lashed out on the media earlier this year, she made the biggest mistake of her life! The media is the main ideological controller and so many persons rely on same to inform them of everyday happenings. It is the media (which is a socialisation agent), that helps masses of persons to shape and form their opinions and ideas. When you attack such a powerful tool, it will only work against you, as we have seen in some of the local newspapers.
This is why at this time especially, Jamaican Girl is weary of all local newspapers. I would rather read a briefing from the World Bank or IMF than listen to some of the nonsense I have been reading and hearing around town.
Lesson: IF YOU ARE UNKIND TO THE MEDIA, THEY WILL BE UNKIND TO YOU! IF YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN THE MEDIA THEY WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO CONTROL THE IDEOLOGY!
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