The power of Performance: Havel’s Greengrocer and the Rules-Based order
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referenced Václav Havel’s 1978 essay, “The Power of the Powerless,” at the World Economic forum on January 20, 2024, to illustrate a perceived crisis in the post-world War II international order.
Havel’s Essay: A Critique of Conformity
Václav Havel’s essay, originally published in samizdat form, describes a greengrocer who displays a sign proclaiming “Workers of the World, Unite!” despite privately disbelieving the message. “The Power of the Powerless” argues that this seemingly insignificant act of conformity reinforces the legitimacy of the totalitarian regime.
The essay’s central argument is that individuals participate in systems they don’t believe in through everyday actions, thereby perpetuating those systems. havel posited that genuine change begins with individuals refusing to participate in these performative rituals.
Such as, Havel observed that even those who privately mocked the Communist system still participated in its rituals, such as voting in rigged elections, fearing social or professional repercussions for dissent. This participation, he argued, granted the system a veneer of legitimacy.
carney’s Application to the International Order
Justin Trudeau, speaking at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, drew a parallel between Havel’s greengrocer and the current state of the rules-based international order. He suggested that nations are increasingly going through the motions of upholding international norms and institutions without genuinely believing in them.
Trudeau’s argument centers on the idea that powerful countries are selectively applying or ignoring international rules when it suits their interests, undermining the system’s credibility. This selective adherence, he contends, mirrors the greengrocer’s performative display of support for a system he doesn’t believe in.
As an example, Trudeau pointed to instances where major powers have disregarded international law or the rulings of international courts, such as the International Court of Justice, when those rulings conflict with their strategic objectives. He did not cite a specific case in his remarks, but the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and differing interpretations of international maritime law in the South China Sea serve as contemporary examples.
- Václav Havel: Czech playwright, dissident, and President (Official Website)
- Justin Trudeau: Prime Minister of Canada (Prime Minister of Canada’s Website)
- World Economic Forum: International association for public-private cooperation (World Economic Forum Website)
- The Power of the Powerless: Havel’s seminal essay on dissent (Full Text)
- International Court of Justice: The principal judicial organ of the United Nations (ICJ Website)
