Deep State & Resisting Change
July 16, 2024•663 words
"The state within a state is hiding mostly in plain sight." ~ Mike Lofgren
"I am quite confident that there are numerous discussions going in various "deep states" throughout the world about how to contain Trump's America geopolitically and economically, given the early indications that his policies will intensify conflict in many parts of the world." ~ Richard A. Falk
"I don't care what you want to call it. You can call it the deep state. You can get specific and you can say that it's members of the permanent government and there are plenty of those, that are in the intelligence community that simply will not accept the results of the Donald Trump election." ~ Rush Limbaugh
The 'deep state' is a concept that suggests the existence of a covert network of influential individuals within government, military, or intelligence agencies.
These individuals are believed to secretly control or influence state policy, often working behind the scenes to advance their own agendas, which may be contrary to the interests of the public or official government policies. This term is often used in political discourse to describe entrenched bureaucracies or power structures that resist change.
The concept of a deep state is not limited to a specific country or region, but is a global phenomenon that emerges from common factors.
It is a common feature in most countries, regardless of their level of power and influence. Established government institutions such as the military, intelligence agencies, and civil services often develop entrenched cultures and priorities that persist despite changes in political leadership. Different branches of government or factions within them may fiercely compete for power and influence, with entrenched individuals actively resisting or undermining elected officials they view as threats.
Intelligence and security operations often involve high confidentiality and independence, deemed necessary to safeguard national security.
However, this arrangement can sometimes result in actions being taken without proper oversight or contrary to the preferences of elected officials. In certain nations, corruption and patronage networks can lead to influential entities within the state that function autonomously or directly oppose the government.
Efforts to bring about major changes in politics, the economy, or society may face resistance from those benefitting from the status quo. Throughout history, events like revolutions or coups have established enduring power structures, often operating covertly. The "deep state" concept reflects how certain groups within the government wield power independently of elected officials, influencing societal structures.
The military, intelligence agencies, and bureaucracies pursue their own agendas independently of elected officials.
Bureaucracies form a state within a state that continues its agenda regardless of political leadership changes. This "deep state" maintains social order and control, preserving existing power structures and the status quo. From this perspective, the deep state concept challenges conventional notions of legitimacy and democratic authority. It illustrates how influential groups exercise power to safeguard their interests and maintain dominance over other societal groups. This suggests that true power resides not solely with elected officials but also with unelected and often unaccountable entities.
The 'deep state' is a network of powerful, unelected officials and entities within a government, intelligence agencies, and military that operate independently of elected officials, working behind the scenes to influence or control national policy and decision-making.
This network is characterized by a high degree of autonomy and secrecy, making it difficult to monitor or hold accountable through democratic processes. It is often resistant to political reforms or changes that threaten its interests, leading to actions that undermine or obstruct the policies of elected officials. This can potentially undermine democratic governance.
The idea of a deep state can significantly erode public trust in how our government works and make people feel like elected officials can't change anything. The deep state shows a conflict between having a say in how things are run and influential groups in the government that might do their own thing without caring about what the elected leaders want.