In the rhetoric of dictators, phrases that begin with the formula “I will not allow it” are extremely common. Or, given that they embody both the “spirit of the people” and, at the same time, the state and the government, the wording becomes: “We will not allow it.”
Let me cite a few examples. Adolf Hitler: “I will not allow Germany to be humiliated again.” Joseph Stalin: “We will not allow our country to become an appendage of capitalist states.” The same speaker: “We will not allow enemies to infiltrate our ranks and harm the cause of socialism.” Fidel Castro: “We will not allow Yankee imperialism to rob the Revolution of its achievements.”
Such messages serve three purposes.
- To show that everything is decided personally, while state institutions—which by definition are supposed to “allow” or “not allow” things—are irrelevant.
- To create the image of an “enemy threat” from which one must be protected.
- To mobilize one’s supporters, who must hate the enemy and love the leader.
The rhetoric of Nikol Pashinyan and members of his team follows the same logic: the all-powerful leader will not allow Russia and its agents in Armenia to undermine their magnificent achievements and deprive us of our independence. What those fantastic achievements are, and which independence we are talking about, let us leave aside here.
Read also
Let us focus on the rhetoric itself, which at times takes forms that contradict ordinary common sense. “I will not allow bishops to gather in Austria.” Even the 20th-century dictators mentioned above did not descend to such absurdity. Nero, perhaps. The next step, presumably, would be for the executive branch to decide where the Union of Artists should hold its congress. Or to have a court determine who is an artist and who is not.
But there are even more comical claims: “We will not allow opposition parties to unite.” Well then, perhaps the law on political parties should be amended to read: “Parties may unite only with the written permission of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
And what exactly are they supposed to do in order not to allow it? Open new criminal cases? Do they not see that this no longer works?
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
