Political opportunism

Political opportunism refers to the practice of taking advantage of every situation to maintain political support or influence, often disregarding relevant ethical or political principles.

Definition

Political opportunism is interpreted in different ways, but usually refers to one or more of the following:

• Maximizing political influence at any cost: Political opportunism is a style focused on increasing political influence at all costs, including seizing every available opportunity to extend power, regardless of whether it aligns with long-term goals.
• Compromising principles for power: Political opportunism can be viewed as a practice that often involves abandoning or compromising previously held political principles to gain greater power or influence. Short-term gains take precedence over ideological consistency.
• Exploiting situations for personal gain: Political opportunism thrives on exploiting situations to extract political capital. The goal is not to advance a principled position or improve understanding but to gain influence, prestige, or support, often at the expense of values.

Strategies and characteristics

Political opportunism is not only defined by its goals but also by the strategies and behaviors employed to achieve them. Common tactics include:

• Strategic understanding of opponents: Opportunists emphasize the importance of understanding the intentions, desires, and strategies of rulers or political opponents. This knowledge enables them to predict actions, form alliances, and negotiate agreements to their advantage.
• Winning public support as a pathway to victory: A leader may possess a formidable army, but without the support of the people, lasting victory is unattainable. Political opportunism prioritizes gaining public favor to achieve its objectives.
• Prioritizing present realities over future aspirations: While it is easy to focus on future possibilities, political opportunists prioritize decision-making based on present realities and facts. Neglecting the present undermines future ambitions and leads to failure.
• Caution in empowering others: Political opportunism discourages strengthening weaker powers that could eventually rival the leader. Giving others power or status risks weakening one’s own position, as alliances and appeasement can backfire.
• Direct confrontation when necessary: Opportunists go beyond merely undermining opponents by directly opposing them when strategically advantageous. This approach not only weakens adversaries but also consolidates their own authority.
• Success legitimizes all actions: Success is seen as the ultimate validation of a political strategy. Public and media praise are heaped upon the successful, while failure invites criticism and blame. Opportunists focus on achieving visible results to shield themselves from scrutiny.

While these strategies may lead to success, whether in the short term or as part of a broader plan, they often raise ethical questions about the abandonment of principles and the distinction between opportunism and necessary compromise.

The role of principles

Political opportunism is often criticized for prioritizing expediency over principles. Whether in the pursuit of immediate gains or through compromise, principles serve as the benchmark for distinguishing legitimate behavior from opportunism.

Short-termism

Opportunistic political behavior is frequently criticized as shortsighted or narrow-minded. The drive to secure or maintain political gains can lead to decisions that prioritize pragmatism at the expense of principles. Such actions often provoke public disillusionment and calls for a return to core values.

Ambiguity in political situations frequently provides fertile ground for opportunism. When circumstances lack precedent or consensus, it can be difficult to determine whether an action is adaptive or opportunistic. Politicians may defend such decisions as necessary or aligned with broader goals, even as critics label them opportunistic. Milton Friedman highlighted this tension by remarking, "One man's opportunism is another man's statesmanship".

In some cases, political figures defer judgment of their controversial decisions by claiming that "history will prove me right." This argument has been used to justify actions ranging from significant policy shifts to military interventions.

Opportunism vs. compromise

Compromise is a cornerstone of politics, yet it must be managed to ensure it does not undermine principles. John F. Kennedy emphasized this balance, stating: "We can resolve the clash of interests without conceding our ideals… Compromise need not mean cowardice."

However, compromises that dilute or abandon principles risk being labeled opportunistic. For instance, some political leaders have been accused of shifting their positions drastically for the sake of expediency, leading to accusations of opportunism rather than pragmatism.

Rigid adherence to principles can lead to sectarianism or factionalism, while excessive flexibility risks undermining their role as meaningful guides to action. Political compromises must strike a balance between adapting to changing circumstances and upholding ethical boundaries.

The interpretation of principles often sparks disputes. The same action may be justified using different principles, or interpretations may vary about how a principle should be applied. Consistent adherence to principles helps distinguish legitimate compromises from opportunistic behavior and fosters trust in political decision-making.

Assessment

Caricature chastising the Labour Party for how they changed once they began getting some power in the British Government…
Miss LIBERAL PARTY: "That rough person seems to think he knows you."
LABOUR STATESMAN "Oh, no doubt, m'lady, before one was a member of the governing classes one could know all sorts of queer people, but now, as you know, one has to be careful."

Political integrity involves maintaining a balance between principled positions and the flexibility needed to respond to changing circumstances. Leaders are expected to navigate complex situations while staying true to their ethical commitments. This balance defines effective leadership, as it allows decisions to be guided by values rather than opportunism.

However, this balance can be difficult to maintain in practice. Saul Alinsky, in Rules for Radicals, observed that political organizations often act on contradictory motives, where decisions intended to serve the common good may also be influenced by self-interest. He suggested that laws are often written with lofty goals in mind but are implemented in ways that reflect underlying greed or practical considerations. This tension between ideals and pragmatism highlights the challenges of maintaining transparency in politics. When politicians withhold key information for strategic reasons, public trust may erode as citizens speculate about hidden motives.

The claim that "there is no such thing as an honest politician" underscores the difficulty of fully disclosing the complexities of decision-making. Politicians often provide partial truths to advance specific goals, which may create skepticism about their intentions. Nonetheless, entering politics does not necessarily preclude acting with integrity. Many leaders begin their careers with the intent to serve the public good but face pressures that force them to compromise or adapt. Over time, the role of political office may shift from being a means to achieve higher goals to an end in itself, shaping their decisions around maintaining power rather than advancing ideals.

As John Keegan observed, the greater threat to political integrity often lies not with the leaders themselves but with those around them who exploit political systems for personal gain. These individuals may undermine trust by creating factions, manipulating processes, or prioritizing their own interests above the common good. Assessing whether an action is opportunistic depends on understanding the context and motivations behind it. Actions aligned with ethical principles and showing consistency between means and ends are typically seen as legitimate. In contrast, actions motivated primarily by personal or factional interests are more likely to be judged as opportunistic. However, these judgments are subjective and can be shaped by political biases, emotional reactions, or limited information.

Ultimately, balancing principles and pragmatism is essential for maintaining public trust. While political leaders must adapt to changing circumstances, adherence to consistent ethical commitments reassures the public that decisions are being made for the common good rather than for short-term political gain.

Drawbacks

Political opportunism disrupts coherent strategies by prioritizing short-term gains over principled action. Tactics such as exploiting crises for electoral advantage, shifting positions to suit public sentiment, or distorting facts obscure long-term goals. This creates confusion about which strategies are effective, blurs the distinction between success and failure, and leads to the repetition of past mistakes. For instance, research on political opportunism during economic crises reveals that leaders often delay necessary but unpopular measures to secure voter approval, causing long-term harm to economic stability.

Moreover, opportunism erodes public trust. As leaders abandon consistency or manipulate information to suit immediate needs, voters grow cynical, perceiving decisions as arbitrary or self-serving rather than accountable. These behaviors also deepen societal divisions, with polarizing rhetoric and disinformation used to manipulate perceptions and maintain power. While effective in the short term, such tactics undermine social cohesion and stall progress on critical challenges like climate change and economic inequality.

Ultimately, reliance on opportunistic tactics reduces politics to reactive pragmatism, focused on preserving the status quo rather than addressing systemic issues or advancing collective goals. This not only stifles innovation but also weakens the ability to mobilize public support for meaningful change.