Mandela’s lesson for Biden: think institutionally
Nelson Mandela stepped down after only one term as South Africa’s first democratically elected president. His decision was celebrated worldwide as a departure from the tendency of African leaders to hold on to power for dear life. In neighboring Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe ran the country for 37 years while his Ugandan counterpart Yoseri Moseveni has just edged him by one year.
Mandela had signaled his plans to step down in his closing speech as president of the ANC. He emphasised the importance of succession: “The time has come to hand over the baton in a relay that started more than 85 years ago when we ourselves received the baton we might not have fully appreciated the significance of the occasion, preoccupied by the detail of the moment… And so the time has come to make way for a new generation, secure in the knowledge that despite our several mistakes, we sought to serve the cause of freedom.”
By stepping down Mandela displayed what political scientist Hugh Heclo described as the ability to “think institutionally”. This required an appreciation that “there is something estimable and decisive beyond me and my immediate personal inclinations” and posing to oneself “the duty-laden question that asks, what expectations and conduct are appropriate to my position and the choices I might make? What is it larger than myself into which I am drawn.”
Heclo cited George Washington as an example of someone who easily could have imposed himself as a would-be emperor when the Continental Congress failed to provide supplies for the revolutionary war. But instead of marching into town, he waited until the decision was made. Washington did this because he respected the institution. and possessed personal humility: “Instead of thinking myself freed from all civil obligations by this mark of confidence, I shall constantly bear in mind that as the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first to be laid aside when those liberties are firmly established.”
Mandela also showed the ability to think institutionally when he obeyed a subpoena issued at the behest of white rugby boss Louis
Luyt who was contesting the government’s attempts to investigate the affairs of the sport.
His aides were opposed to the president honouring the subpoena for doing so would open the floodgates to attempts to undermine the executive from performing its duties.
They also argued that the subpoena was another racist attempt to embarrass the black government and humiliate the president. But Mandela insisted on going because not even the president was above the law
This is in direct contrast to Donald Trump’s attacks on the judiciary as part of a deep state conspiracy to destroy him except he has only praise for those judges that rule in his favour, such as the feckless judge Aileen Cannon from the Southern District of Florida who seems to be doing everything to protect him from prosecution.
Trump is obviously beyond the pale when it comes to attacking democratic institutions, but it is Joe Biden’s legacy I am worried about. Biden has made the contrast between democracy and autocracy the centerpiece of his foreign policy. He has also argued that he is the only one who can beat
Trump. And yet his refusal to step aside could have the exact opposite consequences by yielding the White House back to Trump in November, a result that would make one Vladimir Putin very happy. Trump would certainly pack federal courts with even more conservative judges all the way to the Supreme Court. And as he has said on so many occasions, he would seek revenge against political opponents, with a clear focus on the Biden family and the court officers who have ruled against him.
It is dangerous, delusional and anti-democratic when individual politicians say only they can save democracy. That is the default logic of dictators, not of a man who has spent a lifetime in the service of democracy. The exaggerated sense of their abilities is exacerbated by having aides who will tell them only what they want to hear. Biden must do the Mandela-like thing and pass the baton to a younger generation of Democratic Party leaders.
The Democratic Party has a deep bench of talented individuals who would easily beat Trump at the polls. A Democratic Party ticket headed by Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom of California would rejuvenate American politics and bring some excitement to younger voters, and perhaps bring back those voters who had already decided against voting for the party because of Biden’s refusal to back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and when he did it was too little and too late. Above all, by stepping down he would be demonstrating his faith in the American people and democratic institutions. He would be thinking and acting institutionally.
It is dangerous, delusional and anti-democratic when individual politicians say only they can save democracy