From Oppressed to Oppressor: The Corrupting Effect of Unlimited Power
Lord Acton's statement, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," has been confirmed in many events. The effect of power on people is evident when those who were once oppressed become equally oppressive when they gain power. For example, Jews suffered greatly during World War II. However, after the establishment of the State of Israel, the oppression and violence they applied to Palestinians have been regarded by many as genocide. This is an example of how those who were once oppressed can become oppressors when they gain power.
A similar situation occurred during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The revolution led by Mao Zedong initially started with promises of equality and justice. However, as the revolution progressed, opponents and dissidents faced severe oppression and persecution. In this process, the revolutionaries became as ruthless as the oppressors they once fought against. Power corrupted them, causing great harm to their own people.
The same situation was seen in the Soviet Union. The working class, oppressed before the revolution, established an oppressive regime under Stalin's leadership when they seized power. Millions of people were imprisoned, exiled, or killed in the Gulag camps. Thus, those who were once oppressed applied the same oppression to others when they gained power. These examples show how power can corrupt people.
No one should be given unlimited power and authority. To prevent the abuse of power, the principle of separation of powers should be applied, and continuous oversight mechanisms must be in place. History has shown us repeatedly how power can corrupt people. Additionally, we know from human nature that gaining power can lead to losing oneself and acting recklessly. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that those in power are supervised and held accountable.