Breather Assignment--Political/Foreign Relations Group

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry, a despotic governmental regime of the magic world, and its media ally the Daily Prophet attempt to consolidate governmental power through coercion and propaganda. Their tactics include seeking to discredit opponents through smear attacks, silencing dissent, and the isolation, in one way or another, of those who stand in the way of their power. Today, like the Ministry and Daily Prophet of Harry Potter’s world, the US government and its media allies are acting like a despotic regime by employing similar tactics presumably to accomplish a similar purpose.

Discrediting opponents is a mainstay of despotic regimes. In Harry Potter, the Ministry was denying the reality that Voldemort had returned. Harry, on the other hand, recently encountered Voldemort, and knew he was very much alive and well. Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts and influential in the wizard world, believed Harry. Because of this, both were smeared in the Daily Prophet, a newspaper that had strong ties to the government. The same thing is happening today, especially to those who are opposed to the current administration. Right before Barack Obama’s Inauguration in January of this year, Rush Limbaugh, on his radio talk show, stated that he hoped Barack Obama and his policies would fail (2009). He explained that, “…what [Obama is] talking about is the absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things. I don’t want this to work” (Limbaugh, 2009). The mainstream media, who seems totally infatuated with Obama, took Rush’s words out of context and sought to discredit him with shouts of “This guy is anti-American! He wants the President of the United States, and by extension, The United States itself to fail.” Thus the media disparaged his character and discredited his views, and both Harry and Rush suffered similarly (Shakir, 2009).

After smearing and discrediting, despotic regimes turn their efforts to silencing dissent. In Harry Potter, the Ministry, and Delores Umbridge, in particular, attempts to silence anybody who does not agree with their views. While instructing a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Umbridge decides to teach theory only, rather than educating students on how to defend themselves through the use of spells. This causes a stir in the class, and Umbridge asks why they would need to defend themselves. Harry Potter mentions the unspeakable name of Voldemort in response, and Umbridge grows instantly upset and requires punishment for Harry. In her office, she asks Harry to write, “I will not tell lies” until it “sinks in.“ As he writes, the words do not appear on paper but, rather, are etched in blood into the flesh of Harry’s hand, sending a clear message he must conform or accept serious consequences. While not through physical torture, high-ranking Democrats are attempting to silence the conservative voice through the “Fairness Doctrine.” This policy was implemented in 1949 which “required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a fair and balanced manner”(Pence, 2007, pp. 1,7). However, it resulted in less political debate (Jenkins, 2009, p. B4). In 1987, the FCC and Ronald Reagan ended the Fairness Doctrine, which paved the way for talk radio (Jenkins, 2009, p. B4). Recently, several very influential Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry, Senator Debbie Stabenow, and former President Bill Clinton, have proposed that the Fairness Doctrine, or some form of it, should again be implemented (Jenkins, 2009, p. B4). Of course it is all under the guise of fairness, said Bill Clinton, “we ought to have more balance on the other side” (Jenkins, 2009, p. B4). But just as Harry was silenced, albeit temporarily through physical torture, the intent here is to silence today’s dissenters: the Conservatives.

Despotic regimes attempt to isolate those they oppose, especially once they have been discredited and silenced. In the case of Harry Potter, psychological isolation is effective when physical isolation proves impossible. Harry faces expulsion from Hogwarts for practicing underage magic, even though it was in self-defense. The trial, which Harry is given no time to prepare for, fails to expel him, but contributes to his sense of isolation. Fortunately, a friend helps Harry by showing him that he is not alone. She reminds him why he is a target, “If it’s just you alone, you’re not much of a threat.” In a recent Time Magazine article, author Michael Grunwald attempts to show that the Republican Party is an “endangered species” and will soon be out of existence (2009). Whether or not this speaks truth, the undertone of the article to any conservative, freedom-loving Republican reader seems to say: “You are alone. Your views are completely out of the mainstream. You should feel ashamed to be so extreme.” Some readers may succumb to psychological isolation based on the article’s message, just as Harry temporarily succumbed to the influence of the ministry and the Daily Prophet.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix offers an accurate look into the tactics despotic governments use to silence dissent in order to further their objectives. While there is correlation to the United States government today, the news may not be all bad. Just as Harry Potter, with some help from his friends, was able to triumph in the end, freedom-loving Americans may triumph as well. According to a Rasmussen Report, Barack Obama’s approval index, for the first time since his Inauguration, dipped below zero for three consecutive days. As more Americans flex their political muscles, the nation’s leaders will receive a clear message. Whether or not it proves effective remains to be seen.