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If you’ve spent any time in Amtgard at all, you’ve heard the word before. Chances are good you’ve heard it in a negative context- people stating that they hate politics or never want to be involved in politics. But what are politics, exactly?

pol•i•tics [pol-i-tiks]–noun (used with a singular or plural verb)
1. the science or art of political government.
2. the practice or profession of conducting political affairs.
3. political affairs
4. political methods or maneuvers
5. political principles or opinions.
6. use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006

Simply put, politics are anything having to do with running or governing an entity, whether it is a club like ours, a state, or an entire country.

Politics in Amtgard are no different than politics in the mundane world. Discussing your opinion about an issue, voting in an election or on an Althing ballot- if you’ve done those things, you have engaged in politics. So why does everyone talk about politics like it’s food poisoning?

The truth is that there is nothing bad about politics. Having a government, voting on policies, voicing an opinion- none of these things are evil, terrible monsters waiting to gobble you up.

People who claim to hate politics often say that Amtgard doesn’t need them. Consider this: if there was no government, who would decide where the park is going to be? Politics-haters will often respond with “The people who are out there swinging stick will decide together!”

Guess what? That’s a government. It may be rudimentary, but the simple act of getting together to make a decision about how something is going to be run is creating a government. Amtgard as a club was founded with a much more complex system of government and that system has expanded to include inter-kingdom bodies such as the Circle of Monarchs.

Is that a bad thing? Consider what that government brings us. Feasts, court functions, camping events, inter-kingdom tournaments such as Olympiad- none of those things could be accomplished without a system of government in place. Someone has to be responsible for coordinating between groups, and none of these things can happen without money. If the club is going to have money, someone needs to be responsible for overseeing that money.

Think about the benefits that a government brings us: larger battlegames, which attract members. Competition, which fosters improvement and excellence. Feasts, camping events- these things create and foster the culture of Amtgard and each individual park. All of these elements contribute toward creating a stronger club, one that will still be there for you ten years down the road.

If you have a government, you will have politics- it is unavoidable.

If you express an opinion about an issue or the candidates for office, you are being political.

If you cast a vote, you are being political.

If you run for office, you are being political.

If someone told you that you weren’t allowed to express an opinion about something going on at your park, how would you react? If someone told you that even though you paid your dues and fulfilled the requirements that you weren’t allowed to vote, how would this make you feel?

Most people would react very angrily if the ability to do these things was taken away from them. They are rights and privileges that you may not exercise, but that most people feel they should have the option to engage in. So if the many little pieces of politics are things that you would be willing to fight for and protect… how can politics be bad?

It all leads back to the definition of politics. Let’s look at number six again.

6. use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc.

One of the definitions of intrigue is “to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations”.

Politics is not the big bad. The manner in which people engage in them can be. Backstabbing, lying, rumor-mongering, bribery- these are the types of political maneuverings that give so many people a negative opinion of the entire process.

Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) once said: “Politics, as the word is commonly understood, are nothing but corruptions.” Unfortunately, many Amtgardians hold the same opinion. So where does the bad come in?

COMMON COMPLAINTS

1. Awards

Many members often blame underhanded politics on the awards system. When you create a system of recognition, people are going to want and strive for that recognition- it’s simply human nature. People want to do well, and they want to feel appreciated and recognized for their efforts.

The Amtgard awards system is set up so that in any given park- or kingdom- only two people have any authority over who does and does not receive recognition: the monarch and the regent. Their job is to recognize people for their work and achievements as fairly as they can. They are, however, people. People make mistakes and overlook things. Even if it is completely innocent, it is easy to confuse mistakes with intent and people who feel overlooked or “cheated” of recognition will often take the worst view. Soon, you have accusations of favoritism, cronyism and even bribery.

Many times these views are not fair or accurate, but they are unfortunately made more plausible when someone somewhere is actually proved to be guilty of these things. One bad apple can help ruin the reputation of many honest people who are simply trying to do their best.

2. Knighthood

Knighthood on the surface would seem to fit into the awards category, but it is different due to one major factor: the Belted Circle.

In many kingdoms, only one person can make the final decision as to whether or not to bestow a knight’s belt: the monarch. The Belted Circle is a body that consists of all current knights; in kingdoms where the monarch grants knighthood, the Belted Circle (or Knights’ Circle) act as advisors, giving their opinions and voting on whether or not a particular member should be granted a belt in their opinion. It is simply that- an opinion. Ultimately, the monarch may or may not take those opinions into account. Because most Circles are conducted in secret, however, the populace in general can easily develop misinformed, skewed, or biased views of what actually occurs in those meetings. Any group that is viewed as having a say over the awarding of one of the club’s highest honors is going to become a target of suspicion.

In kingdoms where knightings are solely determined by the vote of the Circle the principal is the same, but rather than having one person to ultimately place the blame on, the whole group is responsible and the potential for perceived intrigue is multiplied.

Both methods lead to the same accusations: theories about back-room deals, clandestine agreements to push for one candidate in exchange for receiving support for another, the opinion that some factions force their will upon the others and similar conspiracy theories.

It is easy to assume that a group of people talking behind closed doors is up to no good. It’s much harder to defend against these sorts of accusations.

3. Elections

When people are campaigning to be elected into office, it’s very easy to confuse self-promotion with badmouthing. There is a fine line between marketing your own strengths and ideas and bashing on the other guy’s. Even a comment that was meant innocently can come across as mudslinging if you aren’t careful with your words.

Running for office is competitive; competition often brings out the worst in people and not everyone knows how to be a gracious loser. Other common accusations include rigging elections or bribing people for votes.

When you are involved in electing the person or people who will be running the group for the next six months, it is natural to have concerns. Concerns often turn into fears, and fear can lead quickly to paranoia. Most of the time the accusations that are thrown around are false; but again- when you are dealing with people there are always going to be bad examples out there, making life harder for the honest guys.

It is easy to assume that people with power are corrupt; it is often very hard for those people to prove their innocence. Making an accusation costs the accuser nothing; it unfortunately can have a lasting or even permanent effect on the accused.

People who run for office repeatedly or engage actively in politics know this; as a result, many of them take steps to protect themselves. Show me an experienced Amtgard politician and I will show you someone who has years and years of e-mails and forum posts saved somewhere… just in case. Though it makes perfect sense to protect yourself, even that can be seen as bad- after all, would you need to be so concerned with protecting yourself if you didn’t have something to hide?

People see these things and make a judgment: politics are bad.

The reality is that having politics- and the systems of government that go along with them- brings many benefits to each and every individual member of our society.

Human nature includes the ability to make assumptions, make mistakes, say the wrong thing, be paranoid, and a whole host of other negatives. The only method to combat this type of thinking is to make your own informed decisions. Try to see every side of an argument, and remember: politics are necessary if we want to continue to have events, feasts, awards, and a long list of other positive aspects of the club. The best way to influence the politics in your area- or Amtgard in general- is to become actively involved in the process and be a positive voice for change as well as tradition.

Welcome to the wonderful world of politics… and watch your step. It can get a little hairy out there.

Next - Chapter II: How Do I Get Involved?

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